#eddie working in a record store would be gold

[agirlwholovesrockstars]

you're Gareth's.... WHAT?!?

★ EDDIE MUNSON'S MASTERLIST ★

❣ AGATHA'S MAIN PAGE ❣

summary : Eddie is furious seeing you with someone else after you told him, he's the first ever guy that you became friends with.... surprise at the end! 🤫

warnings : 18+ Eddie Munson x FEM!reader, language, reader and Eddie are both 20, Gareth is 18, use of y/n, Eddie will might be so mean to reader but she doesn't mind it lmao, a very fun mini fic hehe

what to expect : angst at first and fluff at the end 🤭 some comedy parts as well

note to reader : I think I'm just gonna focus more on my mini fics as for now hahaha I really need to finish my degree or else it would finish me 🥲

author note : help- can you imagine Eddie being absolutely an asshole to you for completely misunderstood the situation and you're just like 😂

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"Oh, it's you again" you say as you fixed the music tapes on the table

A mischievous smile is sitting on his face as he says "Aww- you're not happy to see me?"

"I'm working, Eddie" you replied as you directly look on to his eyes

You move over aside to arrange the vinyls alphabetically, he followed you

You shake your head to his mannerisms but a fond smile is now on your face

"Come on, Y/N- can we hang out later?" He begs with that "you can't say no" freaking eyes are now staring at you

You sigh "Alright, fine- Eddie- baby" you tease as you pinch his cheeks

Eddie suddenly felt this hot raging fire on his whole body at that moment

You left him on the aisle, giggling to yourself after you saw him, frozen dead cold on the same spot- he can't move

He always liked you but he never dares to try ruin his first friendship with a girl

You always liked him too- despite his facade persona to scare away bullies, he is one of a kind, heart of gold guy you've ever met

He met you in the same place, the place that you work, the only record store in Hawkins, Indiana

You moved last year and ever since he laid his eyes you- he knew that you're the one

He can't believe that you accepted him as a friend- at first he'll thought you'd be so rude to him because of his appearance and of course he always got his insecurities get the best of him- he thought you're too good for him

Way out of his league

But after he learned about your personality and you've never looked at him in the eyes of judgement and you always speak with so much honesty whenever you talk to him

He felt safe and he can fully trust you

He never expected that you and him will be friends, they way you both clicked- he thought he was just dreaming

Still, it's unbelievable to him that he's the first ever guy that you ever had as a friend

"Dumb pricks" he said to himself

Eddie followed you everywhere you go while you're work- sometimes he is absolutely so insufferable but most of the time? You don't mind it

Maybe being steady or keep calm don't exist on his system whenever you're around

He is always and never did once stayed away from your sleeve

It's so silly but so cute at the same time

When you feel worried, mad, frustrated, sad, he's just right there for you and you'll do the same thing with him

He's just.... the best

You approach him with a sweet smile "Eddie, come on" you reach for his hand, you tug him with you as he automatically intertwined his hold with you

You both went to the backdoor, you gave him a wrapped up present

He furrow his brows at you, instantly observing the thing that you just gave him

"No tricks?" He inspects the entirety of it

"No tricks, this time- Ed's" you winked

He raises his eyebrows at you

"I'm serious, Eddie just open it before I lose it" your excited face falls out of annoyance

He tear the wrapper and he almost fell down as you hold him by his shoulders

"You- what?! Y/N!" He laughs happily as he covers his mouth in shock

"Shh!" You whisper-shout "it just got here yesterday, every employee gets a free vinyl- but instead I'm gonna give this one to you"

You giggled as you watch him completely haywire over the gift that you just give him

"Metallica : Master Of Puppets" Album

"Y/N, sweetheart" he utterly speechless in front of you

"You're welcome!" You smiled widely at him

He hugged you as he breathes on the crook of your neck as he held the back of your head

You melt with it

He whispers to your ear "I adore you so much, Y/N- thank you"

You hummed, he pulled back as he offers his arm to you

You both inhale the pepperoni pizza and root beer float

He gave you the last slice as he finishes his drink

He smirks "Hey, Y/N"

"Yeah?" you reply as you continue to chew

"Close your eyes" he says to you

You squint your eyes at him "Eddie- if this is a joke- I'm gonna get your ass-"

He frowns "I promise- it's not a joke!"

You roll your eyes at him

He grew frustrated "Just. Close. Your. Damn. Eyes"

You swallowed your food "Okay, fine"

You could hear him picking out of his leather jacket

"Give me your hand" he announces

You knit your brows together

"Ah! No peeking!"

You chuckled "Right, okay"

When he puts something on the palm of your hand, it almost felt like a piece of paper

"Now, open your eyes"

It is a piece of paper

You intently watch him

"Take a look" he smirks at you

Oh- gosh- you know that look

You braced yourself

The moment you see "Jim Henson's Labyrinth starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly"

You squealed in excitement as he throws his head back in laughter

You say sorry for the disturb customers but you can't help it

"Movie tickets?" You say with a gleeful smile

You noticed it's two tickets

"You bought two?" You held up the two tickets, your genuine smile still lingers

He starts to become shy and he wishes that his cheeks are not flaming red, but it does

"Uh- I bought two just in case- if- if you want someone else to come with you" he stammers as he can't hold his gaze on you

"Eddie is the only one who can make flustered look adorable" you think to yourself

Your eyes soften, you get up as he watches you go sat right next to him

"My dear Eddie- you know I don't have a lot of friends- you're coming with me!" You tap his nose

He purses his lips as he can't form the words that he wanted to say to you

You lay your head against his shoulder as he gulped- he must keep his compsure being this close to you

"Happy Friendship Anniversary, Ed's"

You already graduated and he's only got one year left to finish, so you're helping him

"So, how's the campaign?" You asked him

You know how passionate he is whenever it's about his love for his favorite game

"Fucking Awesome!" He exclaims as you laugh at his antics

He goes all the way talking about how it happened and about his new friend that he just forgot to mention his name, he just loves that you really do care about his most beloved stuff

Whenever it's about music, film or D&D- you are there present- listening to him

Eddie finished his school works nicely done, without your help- he wouldn't be able to get through this far, he will make that snatching his diploma into a reality

He can feel it, 1986 is definitely his year

He's about to tell you how his day went until he saw someone with you

His heart dropped to his stomach when he continues to watch you

Why is he feeling like this, you're not even his

Why does he feel jealous?

You hugged and kissed the guy on the cheek that he just called his new friend, few days ago

And a new found band member for Corroded Coffin

He is now regretting his decisions, he wished that guy that you're holding right now didn't exist in the first place

He's staring at him like it he was about to disintegrated into ashes

He left as soon as possible he doesn't wanna stay there for too long

You got confused every 3pm- Eddie visits you and you're both get home together when your shift is finished

You two should've been eating dinner by now

Maybe, he's just busy studying for the finals

You haven't seen or heard anything from him ever since he didn't showed up to your usual routine together

Until

"Hey!" You can finally spot him at your favorite ice cream place

When he doesn't receive your energy back at you, your face falls as you walk slowly towards him

Something in the air feels different

He doesn't even acknowledge your presence

Whatever this is, you don't take it by heart

You sat down across from him, you tried to look for his eyes but he keeps avoiding it

You already seen him get mad but... this is more than just being upset over unnecessary stuff

"Eddie? Is there something wrong?" You ask him softly

"Isn't it obvious?" He snaps at you

The moment he finally looks at you, piercing cold glare that he gives you, it shocks you

Still, you won't take this by the heart

"Eddie, you know could tell me anything? What's wrong? What is going on with you? I missed you- you didn't even called me back for days!" You reached for his hand but he moved away

You frown, you still don't understand where this is behavior coming from

"Will you just leave me alone?!?" He spits at you angrily- he stormed off

You're dumbfounded with mouthing hanging open

This is the very first time that he did this to you and you want to know why

You followed him, you reached for his arm but he yank it off

"Eddie- I'm trying to help you! What the hell is wrong with you?!?" You shout at him

He halts his tracks and turns to look back at you

He's shooting daggers at you with his glare as he walked back at you

"I don't fucking know? Maybe you should ask your boyfriend" he retorts

You crossed your arms against your chest- you laugh incredulously "Are you born yesterday? Eddie?! I don't have a boyfriend you know that!"

He scoffs "Sure, yeah, Whatever you say, Y/N- good fucking night" he left with that, leaving you alone in the streets

If things are not serious, Eddie think you're cute with that angry pout that you just did

You almost missed the sentence that he just let it falls between his lips

He's acting like this because he thought you had a boyfriend?

Oh my, my, my.... He is jealous

You went home afterwards after your weird argument with Eddie

You just had a thought that maybe... Eddie encountered your....

"Hey, Gareth" You called at him while he is resting comfortably on the sofa watching cartoons

"Yeah?" He glanced at you while devouring buttered popcorn

"Can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Yes" he got up and he switched off the TV

You remove your sling bag and you pulled your cardigan sleeves up and then heat up the chicken noodle soup that your mom prepared earlier

He sats himself in the front of the table facing you

"Okay, tell me what is it, Y/N?" He asks with a mouthful of popcorn

You rest your palms on the table leaning forward

"You're a new student right?"

"Yeah" he furrows his brows

"and you told me, you already found a new friend"

"Yeah?" He chews slowly

"you also mentioned that he wants you to become their drummer"

"Yeah?" He is so confused

"you're late for dinner few days ago because you told me that you attended an D&D campaign"

"Y-Yeah, what? Where is this leading to?" He pushes away his popcorn bowl

"Your dungeon master might've been..... Eddie Munson?" You duck your head down and slowly raising to see his reaction

"Oh! Yeah! That's right! That's him!" His eyes sparkled immediately, the moment you mentioned his name

Both of them forgot to mention of the names of the people that just they met- too excited for the fun happiness moments to spill

You rubbed your eyes using your index and your thumb finger but a smirk sitting on your face

Gareth notices it and as he says "Wait- isn't that your?-"

"My bestfriend? yeah" you shrug

He finally understands the situation "Don't tell me something happened-"

"It already did" you say with a sigh as you turn off the heat and grabbed a bowl as you pour the delicious soup that is waiting for your taste buds to devour

He laughs "So- wait- you both got into an argument because he thought I was your boyfriend?!"

You nod as you laughed at him as well

"Who's gotta tell him?" He smirks at you and you grin at him as you ruffle his hair

"I'll handle it, just pretend that you didn't know anything" you wink at him as he agrees to this little mischievous plan

You're so amused at this and you're enjoying at the thought of Eddie is absolutely so freaking possessive and jealous with you

Jeff knits his brows together at his friend

"You're been acting weird a lot lately" he says to him

"Piss off, Jeff!" He grumbles

"Woah- there, my bad" he throws his hands up in surrender

Gareth spots the two of them until he gets the chance to tell Jeff why

Both of them shared knowing looks and smirks

Jeff pushes Gareth away as he tries to run off

Eddie came back with a sandwich as he eats it with no energy, staring at the space for hours

Jeff stifled a huge fit of laugh as he watches his friend

He leans over closer to him "You seriously have no idea do you?"

Eddie stopped chewing his food as furrow his brows at his friend

An eat-shiting grin on his face "Maybe try to learn the situation first before assuming" he raises his eyebrows at his friend

He swallowed as he rolls his eyes at him, but he takes his words carefully

"Eddie!" You start banging on his front doorstep on his trailer

He standing still on the closed door as he huffed

"Christ! Eddie- I know you're in there!"

A moment of silence goes on and on

You clicked your tongue "Fine, I'll just go back home with my boyfriend" you turned around to leave

You smile to yourself and it worked- he swing the door open, almost breaking the door for open it wide- he stepped outside

Oh- shit- he is just wearing black sando and gray sweatpants, he looked good

You're only wearing a hanging blouse, denim shorts and a jacket- you hair falls so easily pretty

He never looked at you for days and he missed seeing your beautiful face

You squealed in excitement as you wrapped your arms around him

He wants to hug you so bad but pride get the best of him as he only pats your back unenthusiastically

You scoffed "What's your damage, Eddie?" you pulled back as you rest your hands on your hips

He is now missing your warmth and touch- my god- your scent is addicting

"If you're mad at me just fucking say it to my face!"

He steps forward at you as he takes a deep breath, he looks straight into your eyes

"You lied to me, you told me for the first time we've met- I was the only guy that you ever talked to or even connected genuinely, I know it's only been a year of our friendship but it felt so right and real to me"

Your eyes soften with his words until

"But that fucking guy you're with, the one that I saw- I know you don't deserved to be treated like this but I am pushing you away now before you could hurt me"

You tried to kept your cool as possible but you can't help but feel amused by this....

He really does love you isn't he?

But you want him to pour it all out for you, completely unfiltered

"Am I still your friend or not?" You bite back

"No- I don't think so" he laughs in disbelief

"Then what are we?!" You step closer

You can feel it- he is fighting back but you want him to say it

Do it, Eddie- just fucking do it

You sigh in defeat as you turn your heel around and walk away, he takes your hand

"I want us to be-" he blurted out

You squint your eyes at him "To be what?"

He shakes his head at you as he thinks to rephrase his choice of words

"I love you, Y/N!" He yells it all out the moment he can feel that your hand is slipping off from his grip

You look back his eyes are longing for you

But he frowns after his confession, he ducks his head down- he looks he's about to cry

"I understand- you got yourself a boyfriend and I'm willing to be your just-"

You're taken him aback as you pulled him by his shoulders

You kissed him, his eyes might bulging out of his skull of what you just did

He breathes heavily but finally got taken control of his system as he grabs you by the waist, you gasp as he deepens the kiss

He is the happiest man alive

You smile through the kiss and you throw your arms around him and you can tell by the way he moves his lips onto you, desperate to feel your lips onto his and to taste you

He cuts off the sweet moment as he looks at you directly and watching you closely

You tilt your head at him as finally let out laughter that has been fighting out of your mouth

He is confused but a crooked smile is growing on his lips

"What's so funny?"

You're still laughing as you moved yourself closer to him, you give him one more peck to his lips

Your laughter died down but still you're giggling

He raises both of his brows begging for an answer

"Eddie, my baby" you play with his lavish long brown hair bangs

His hands still rests on your waist, he's watching you lovingly

"Gareth is the one that you're mad at? Right?"

His forehead easily scrunches up at his name as he nod

You pursed your lips as you begin to say

"He's my cousin, Eddie"

You started to laugh again as you take in his expression of hit of moment realization

His hold you on falls as his legs starts to wobble as he takes his seat

He is still wide-eyed as he looks at you

"Are you being serious?"

"Yes, I am, Eddie"

He smirked and still feel a hint of hurt the way you played him in the most infuriating scheme ever

"You got me all feeling dumb, sweetheart, that is one of a hell tricks that you've ever done"

You bowed down at him jokingly "No worries- about the past night- I just wanted to know-"

"To know about what?"

"That you're saying the truth about your feelings" you shyly say

He smiles at you feeling relieved that he belonged to you after all of this time

You crouch down at him and this time he kissed you unexpectedly and you give it back at him

He holds your cheek and runs his thumb over it

"I love you too, Eddie" you say to him

Oh- his eyes shines so bright at the time he heard those words that he's been waiting for his entire life

As much as you want don't want the moment to be over you announced

"I'm gonna be late for work" you stand up as he stands up as well

He tuts as he blocks your way "Ah-Ah! You're not going anywhere" his eyes darkened and your breath gets hitched at the tone of his voice

You chuckled "Eddie! I might get fired!" He tugged your hand on the way into the front door

"Nah- call it a day off- just say that you're sick" as he licks his lips and rolls his eyes as you look at him innocently

"You're not going to get away from this, Y/N after you what you just told me that you love me!"

He says dramatically as you snorted at his actions like he's going to die when you're not with him

The moment he lets go of his grip on you, you ran off and he chases you as you shrieked by the time he carried you away from the behind

He gets inside, ignoring your protests and puts you down on your feet as he kicks the door shut

You both stare at each other, hearts full of love and joy as you both share the same smiles at each other

He happily hugs you as kisses you so slowly and so heartwarming

He flashes you with those doe eyes again

"Stay with me? Please?" He finally says as he kept his eyes on you

"Alright, Ed's- I'll stay with you" you giggle

He cheers in victory as he swooped off your feet as he captures your lips to kiss again

[mugloversonly]

Silver over Gold

Chapter one: Cracked

inspired by: this

ao3

Summary:

Eddie goes to Family Video, giddy to see Steve at work. It doesn't go well.

They’ve been together for three months. After Vecna, he never thought he’d be this happy; but ever since Steve kissed him on his couch, Eddie’s been on cloud nine.

Steve had been acting weird that whole day. They went to the diner and the record store and Steve bought Eddie any record he wanted. If Eddie didn’t know any better, he would have thought it was a date. Turns out, it was because the next thing he knew Steve’s lips were on his and the two have been together ever since.

They aren’t officially courting…yet. But it was only a matter of time, Steve promised. Eddie can be patient though, especially since he’s seen him turn down every other omega that made a pass at him.

At the beginning of this whole thing, Eddie made sure Steve knew he wanted exclusivity. He’d tried the causal thing before and it did not go too well for Eddie.

Steve reassured him he had nothing to worry about, Robin was the only other omega around Steve’s age in their friend group and they were just friends.

He wanted to believe him, even though everyone was saying they were dating or would be soon. Henderson especially was adamant. He’d constantly tell Eddie that Robin was the girl Steve was going to marry and he secretly loved her. He even tried to get him to help figure out if they were secretly dating.

He wanted to bring it up but didn’t want Steve to think he didn’t trust him so he pushed his insecurities to the side and trusted this alpha with all of him. His heat was a few weeks away and the two planned on spending it together. Eddie was nervous. He wasn’t a virgin by any means, but the last time he spent a heat with an alpha...well there’s a reason he’s never done it again.

But Steve, he trusts. He knows Steve will take care of him, like he’s been doing for the past few months, and make sure it’s a good experience. His omega is already purring at the thought and Eddie can’t sit in the trailer waiting for Steve anymore. He grabs his keys and goes to visit his alpha at work.

~~~

As he opened the door to Family Video, the bell chimes but the two employees don’t move. The first thing to register to Eddie was the scent of calming alpha pheromones and an underlying scent that stops his heart. As he stared at the two embracing in front of him, he knew now that he was a fool.

Steve’s arms were wrapped tight around Robin. The omega he told Eddie not to worry about, he said they were just friends. But as he stood frozen, Steve kissed Robin on the cheek near the corner of her mouth, and her scent flooded with joy. They were in their own little world as Eddie’s came crashing down.

Eddie’s normal blood orange scent turned sour as tears sprung to his eyes. He knew the moment it reached Steve because he looked up and gasped in shock. “Eddie!” he said. Eddie scoffed at the panic in his eyes and held back the tears. Humiliation filled him. He turned and bolted back out the door and into his van. Steve was running after him and nearly managed to grab the door before Eddie could pull away. He had to jump back to avoid getting his toes crushed. All the while he was screaming Eddie’s name but he didn’t stop, didn’t breath, until he was back in the government issued trailer. His chest tightened in a eerily familiar way and all he could think was not this again.

~~~

Wayne immediately noticed his anguish. “Ed? You alright?” Eddie didn’t pause on the way to his nest. He made a disgruntled noise and slammed his bedroom door shut. He looked at his nest and the tears finally fell. Steve’s presence was all over it. His yellow sweater was tucked into it, right near the top. It brought Eddie comfort the past few nights since Steve has been staying at his house. At least that’s what he said. But Eddie didn’t know if he believed that now.

Suddenly the idea of Steve’s scent being in his nest disgusted him. He ripped the nest apart and threw everything into the hamper, except Steve’s sweater. That he threw onto the couch on his way to the washer. Wayne watched concern written all over his face. He ignored his uncle’s look and threw everything into the washer. He poured way too much detergent in and pushed start. Then he went back into the living room and stopped short at the sweater on the chair.

He didn’t want to see it any more. He angrily picked it up and stalked through the front door. He threw it into the dirt and stomped away before coming back and throwing it into the trash can. There. Now he wouldn’t have to see it again. His eyes were still blurry when he came back in but he knew he needed to tell Wayne what happened. He sat down next to his uncle and slumped into him, tucking himself into his side as small as he could get. He didn’t say anything yet. He let Wayne hold him as he calmed down.

“What the hell happened, Ed?” Wayne asked. The older Alpha knew his son wouldn’t speak up unless asked.

“He lied Wayne.” Eddie sobbed. Through choking gasps and hiccups he told Wayne what he saw. “He promised she was just a friend. He promised. But he was emitting the same pheromones he does for me.” Wayne released calming alpha pheromones that soothed his nephew. There was a spicy scent of anger there too but Eddie knew it wasn’t at him. “He's gonna leave me, Wayne. Just like everyone else. What am I gonna do?” He asked.

“First things first, let’s build you a new nest okay?” Wayne said. Eddie nodded and the two went to his room. Wayne gave him the flannel he was wearing and the two set about rebuilding. Wayne always helped him as he was the only person Eddie trusted with such a personal ritual. Soon his bed was covered in blankets, Wayne’s clothes, and a shirt from his mom that had long lost it’s scent. He crawled in and began rolling around in it as Wayne tucked him in. “Try to rest kid. I’m calling out of work tonight so I’ll be home if you need me.” Usually Eddie would protest but he really didn’t want to be alone right now.

“Can you come back and sit with me for a bit?” He whispered. He felt small and like he was about to break. He needed his uncle’s presence even if he had to ask like a pup to get it. Wayne agreed and stepped out.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door but Eddie couldn’t be bothered to get it. He curled onto his side into a tight ball. The agony was unreal, one he’d unfortunately felt a few times. Rejection sickness.

Wayne gently opened the door, “Eds. Steve’s at the door. He looks right devastated.” He admitted. “Want me to let him in?”

“I never want to see him again.” Eddie whispered even as his omega cried out for his alpha.

“Son, are you sure?” The older alpha asked. Eddie turned to face him.

“Please, dad.” He choked out. Wayne nodded, ducking out back to the front door. If Eddie didn’t want to handle it, then he was more torn up than Wayne guessed.

He waited until he heard the front door close then he let his omega mourn. He’s always been more in tune with his hind brain than anyone else he’d ever met. It made him more likely to act on instinct but it also made it less likely he’d go feral. He usually loved it, but right now, he wanted nothing more than to fade away and let his instincts take full control.

When Wayne came back, he didn’t say anything. He just sat in Eddie’s nest and let him curl into his side. He ran his fingers through his hair and let out soothing pheromones: the same he released when Eddie’s mama died. It helped dull it, but it couldn’t prevent the sickness altogether. Rejection sickness had its tells, but every omega was slightly different. Unfortunately, Wayne knew all the signs in his nephew. It’s happened twice before: once due to his own father; and once due to his last alpha. Wayne hoped Steve was different but it wasn’t looking good.

Wayne resolved to let Eddie rest for a few days before he forced him to the hospital.

~~~

Eddie moved around the trailer like a ghost for days. After that first night, Wayne couldn’t call out any more, but he made sure to spend as much time with Eddie during the day as he could, even going so far as to sleep in the nest in a puppy pile. During the day, he didn’t feel too lonely. His heart hurt, but he was able to get out of his nest a few times. Wayne sent Steve away every time he came by or called.

But at night when he was alone, the rejection he felt knowing Steve lied was slowly destroying him. He ignored every ring of the phone just to be safe, and refused to answer the door. He spent countless hours digging through his stuff and finding every little thing of Steve’s and putting it in a box. He’d make Wayne give it to him.

He was stuck in a loop of endless thoughts, jumping from hating Steve for doing this to hating himself for falling for it...again. He thought Steve was a different alpha. He was always a romantic in school with his girlfriends, Eddie always hoped he felt as serious about him.

But he was wrong. And he was suffering for it while Steve was out there with a beautiful girl laughing about his stupid conquest.

His scent was fading. The doctor warned him after the last time that it would hit him a lot faster and harder if it happened again and recommended he take medication that helped lower the risk. Stupidly, he stopped taking them once he thought Steve was serious. Why would he need medication preventing rejection sickness when he had the perfect alpha in his bed? God he was an idiot. Maybe letting the sickness take him this time was better than fighting it.

He was pulled from his spiraling by a knock on the window. He tried ignoring it, but it was insistent. He jumped up and slammed the window open, planning on telling whatever sheep was there to fuck off, but he stopped in his tracks. Steve was standing on the other side looking as devastatingly handsome as ever, even though he was clearly angry. The omega whimpered as he unlocked the window before returning to cower in his nest while Steve let himself in.

“What are you doing here Steve?” Eddie asked as confidently as he could as his omega shook with fear. Steve stared at him for a moment.

“You’ve been ignoring me.” Steve stepped forward and went to sit on the edge of Eddie’s bed. Eddie growled at him and bared his teeth. It wasn’t particularly threatening against the alpha, but Steve took the hint and sat at his desk instead. “I came to explain.”

“You don’t need to explain, just leave like I know you’re going to. I should have known.” Eddie spat. “You’re such a liar.” The tears hadn’t stopped, but now they turned cold in anger. “Wayne told you I didn’t want to see you.” Steve sighed softly.

“I thought maybe he said that because he’s your pack alpha and he didn’t actually ask you.” He admitted.

“You told me you’d never leave me. Was that just bullshit?” Eddie yelled unable to contain himself.

“Don’t call me bullshit.” Steve growled, his alpha voice peaking through. Eddie shrank down, trying to make himself smaller and brought his arms up to protect his face. He didn’t think Steve would hurt him, especially with Wayne in the house. But he’s also never used his alpha voice on him.

“Get out.” He demanded meekly. Steve stood and for a second, Eddie thought he would. But instead he crossed the room and knelt next to the bed. “Do you love her?” Eddie glared, not sure he wanted to know the answer.

“Yes I do. Robin is my best friend.” Steve attempted to reassure. But Eddie didn’t want to hear more lies. The box of Steve’s things were by the door and he shoved it into his hands.

“Forget my number, knothead.” He sneered and strode out of his room ignoring Steve’s gasp.

Wayne was at the stove cooking mac and cheese when Eddie walked in, closely followed by Steve. “Eds? You okay?” He asked.

“No.” Came instantly and tight lipped. Wayne turned around to see the boys glaring at each other, but he noticed Eddie was slightly shaking in fear. He turned off the stove and crossed to his side, putting a hand on his shoulder. His nephew calmed slightly.

“What are you doing here, Harrington?” Wayne narrowed his eyes at the boy.

“No offense Wayne, but this is between Eddie and I.” Steve directed at Wayne though his eyes didn’t move. The younger alpha was trying to assert himself but this was Wayne’s territory. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Eddie subtly shake his head. He calmly sat in his recliner and pulled a newspaper over his face, clearly saying act like I’m not here, but I ain’t leaving.

“Why are you here?” Eddie asked again. Steve turned away from Wayne with a scoff.

“I love you.” Steve replied simply. Eddie’s eyes narrowed and he grabbed an empty beer bottle from the recycling bin. He threw it as hard as he could at Steve’s feet.

“How dare you!” He yelled.

“She’s just my friend!” Steve yelled back, unable to reign in his alpha. He was trying to stay calm but Eddie wouldn’t listen. When he saw him flinch back, Steve took a deep breath, he didn’t want to scare him.

“She’s why you won’t court me isn’t she?” He screamed.

“No!” Steve exclaimed dodging another bottle.

“Liar! You kissed her!” He threw another bottle.

“On the cheek!” Steve’s nostrils flared and he scented the air. Suddenly all his anger evaporated.

“You let me fall in love with you. I told you things that I’ve never told anyone but Wayne.” Eddie threw bottle after bottle, until Wayne finally wrapped his arms around his boy. The anger was fading into anguish.“What does she have that I don’t?” He crumpled into Wayne’s arms. “Why would you do this? I thought you wanted me.” The two embracing men sat on the couch with the younger tucking himself into his uncle. “I thought you were different.” His eyes finally met Steve’s again. What Steve saw in them nearly stopped his heart. “I thought you were different, but you’re just like them.” Eddie could no longer see Steve. Lost in his memories of hurts past. “You’re leaving just like them.”

Wayne commanded the younger alpha to approach slowly. He did and crouched in front of Eddie. “I do love her.” The omega whined but Steve forced himself to continue. “She’s like my sister. She got in a huge fight with her friend and I was comforting her. I know how it looks, I do. But I promise. It’s not like that.” He implored.

“I want to believe you.” Eddie whispered.

“Then believe me” He begged lifting his hand to stroke Eddie’s cheek. At the omega’s flinch he dropped his hand, palm up in offer. Eddie didn’t take it.

“I don’t know what to do, Stevie.” Eddie whispered. “You promised you’d never leave.”

“I’m not leaving you.” Steve blinked a few times but didn’t move.

“Please, I can’t…can’t stand it...it hurts, Stevie...I...” Eddie trailed off. “I can’t do this right now, I need a little time.” Tears ran down his face again, his eyes drained of all life. “Don’t leave me just give me a little time, please.” Steve looked up at Wayne. He was at a loss. On one hand, he didn’t want to leave Eddie. But on the other, he didn’t want to upset him further. He was stuck in an omega drop and there was going to be nothing anyone could do if he didn’t snap out of it soon.

“You should get going Steve.” Wayne said. “Call in the morning when I get home from the plant?” Wayne lifted his eyebrows trying to communicate something. Steve nodded and stood to go.

“I’m sorry I hurt you Eddie.” Steve whispered. “I never wanted to do that. I’ll be here whenever you’re ready, no matter how long it takes. I promise.” He left the trailer, clutching the box to his chest, and trying to ignore the sounds of broken omega and a lack of that blood orange scent he loved.

~~~

When he got home he called Robin. He didn’t tell her any details, but he did tell her it didn’t go well and made her promise to leave it alone. That night Steve laid in bed staring at the ceiling. His heart cracked open further as he thought about everything he did wrong. The ignored calls and visits, being turned away by Wayne; at first Steve thought Eddie was just mad at him. He used his alpha voice on Eddie in anger. He showed up half-cocked and frustrated; so blind by his need to clear the air that he couldn’t see the distress his omega was in. His omega needed him but he wasn’t there. He scoffed at himself. His omega. How dare he even think that about Eddie.

He loves him; but, he didn’t start officially courting him. He was so afraid of getting his heart broken again that he broke someone else. Because he’s sure now. It wasn’t just Eddie’s heart that cracked in the entry way to Family Video; it was his soul. His very being was crushed into dust by Steve. If he could have just gotten over his stupid fears, he wouldn’t be here. His...the omega wouldn’t be spiraling into a drop. He smelled as if he’d been suffering rejection sickness untreated for months but it had only been a few days.

Steve shattered the love of his life.

@v3lv3tf0x @lexirosewrites

[final-girl96]

STOLEN HEART CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

YN

“It's a good song, honey. If I knew you could write like this I would have had you write all our songs,” my dad said, chuckling at the end. I rolled my eyes, a laugh escaping me. “Thanks, dad. I don't know, after everything that happened…with him…it just sort of came to me and I opened my notebook and started writing.”

Fragments of Love

(Verse 1)

I once believed in the words you whispered in the night

But now I see they were just empty promises, not quite

You said forever, but forever seems so far

Now I'm left with these broken pieces of my heart

(Chorus)

Fragments of love, scattered on the ground

Each shattered dream, lost and never found

You promised me the world, but all I got was pain

Now I'm left picking up the pieces, trying to remain

(Verse 2)

I held onto your words like they were precious gold

But now I see the lies that your stories told

You said you'd never leave, but now you're gone

Leaving me stranded in a world so cold and alone

(Chorus)

Fragments of love, scattered on the ground

Each shattered dream, lost and never found

You promised me the world, but all I got was pain

Now I'm left picking up the pieces, trying to remain

(Bridge)

I believed in you, I trusted in your name

But now I see the truth behind this cruel game

Promises broken, like fragile glass

Leaving me stranded in this broken past

(Chorus)

Fragments of love, scattered on the ground

Each shattered dream, lost and never found

You promised me the world, but all I got was pain

Now I'm left picking up the pieces, trying to remain

(Outro)

Fragments of love, echoes of a broken vow

But I'll gather the pieces, some day, someway, somehow

“I still make him disappear…” I snorted at that. “I think I'll be just fine. It still hurts but not as bad as it did,” I said. Dad hummed on the other side of the line. “Well, I may or may not have looked into what he's been up to. He went to rehab and just got out a couple weeks ago.” I cleared my throat and moved around on the couch to fold my legs under me. “Yeah, I saw him the other day in town. He's been sending me flowers for the past six fucking months. The greeting card always has a different way to apologize. I didn't know there were so many different ways but he found them.”

“That's what fame does to you, sweetheart. It makes it easier for you. You can have all the drugs and alcohol at your fingertips. Eddie was used to always being the laughing stalk. High school was hell for him; he got bullied. Now everyone loves him. Men want to be him. Women want to be with him. Girls are going to be jealous of you and hate you because you are with…were with him. Everyone wants to party because nobody is going to tell them to stop. The only way you can get help is if you want it. This was his breaking point; losing you completely opened his eyes. Don't be too hard on him.”

My dad gave me a lot to think about after I got off the phone with him. I could see Eddie was trying to get better, but I'm still working on healing myself. Right now my priority was to get to work on time. I don't need to work but I want to. I want to make my own money and not live off my dad's money. So I got a job at Hawkings Rockin’ Records. It was a small record store in town at the little plaza beside the video store. Robin and Steve Harrington used to work at the video store.

I grabbed my jacket, slipping my arms into the sleeves. It was a little chilly in Hawkins; being the end of October; only one more days until it's Hallowen. I love autumn, it's my favorite season. The leaves are changing and falling, Halloween and scary movies, everything is all spooky. The weather was perfect. It was still kind of warm but there was chill in the air. I had Billy help me decorate the house inside and out. He hated every moment of it but it still helped me. I was planning a small get together for Halloween.

I've grown close with not just Billy but his sister Max and her boyfriend Lucas and their friends Dustin, Will, El, and Mike. I also invited Steve and Robin, along with Nancy, Mike's older sister, and Will's older brother Jonathan. They have all known each other and were close for years, so it was a little awkward at first but they've accepted me into their group with open arms. Now we're all close and frequently hang out.

I went to work, did Inventory, and restalked some stuff. Everything that my dad had said to me was replaying over and over in my mind. Eddie had gone to rehab and seemed like he was cleaning his life up. He's been sending me flowers for six months straight. Yesterday flowers were believed with a simple apology note. “I'm sorry. Happy Halloween. Love E.” He was trying. He wasn't giving up. Not on himself or me. The flowers were fucking gorgeous as always.

This bouquet was made up of black and orange roses with sunflowers mixed in. The top of the flowers was covered with a thin layer of fake spider web and had a couple little spiders on top. They were wrapped in black paper with a ribbon tied around the stems. The ribbon was black with white skulls on it. This was hands down my favorite bouquet he has sent me. I mean, all the flowers he's sent are absolutely beautiful, but this one was my favorite. Halloween is my favorite holiday and the flowers were perfect. I have them in a vase in the middle of the kitchen island.

After work I went to Benny's to meet everyone. We were going to be planning out tomorrow night. We wanted to have a small get together with just the twelve of us. Pizza, snacks and drinks, music, games, horror movies. We just had to figure out what movies we were going to watch and what everyone wanted on their pizza and what kind of drinks to get. It was going to be a fun time. It's something I've needed. Having these guys in my life has helped so much.

I was grateful to have them. I didn't mind living in a small town. It was way better than always being on the road and having paparazzi following you everywhere you went and having your whole life plastered all over the place. Now, I'm not saying paparazzi haven't tried to come here, because they have. But my dad had put a stop to it. He's taken all the attention away from Eddie and I's relationship issues and put it on himself. Plus it helped that El's dad, Hopper, was the Chief of police. So if I have a problem I just have to call him up and he comes to take care of it.

When I walked onto Benny's everyone was already there. “Took you long enough,” Billy said, walking up to me. I rolled my eyes at him. “Left me with these idiots.” I elbowed him in the side. “Be nice. You're lucky to have people like them in your life. Even if you were an asshole in the past.” He scoffed and we walked to the table. Everyone ordered what they wanted, we talked while we waited, and planned everything out while we ate. Then we left ten minutes before Benny had to close.

[pastelbatfandoms]

Watching C's podcast on YouTube, if you are a shifter you know who she is. I really respect her because she doesn't just follow what everyone else is doing plus her SJ in her Hogwarts dr is insane!

It was Stranger Things late last year. It's still unfinished but I made it on google docs and I did post it on here. Besides my written one.

I think Hanna (the one who made this survey) says it best so I will link her TikTok on it! HahaShifts

I connect with my drs through Pinterest boards, FMVs, watching the shows, movies or reading the books, writing fanfic, music, Chat AI as well as Tarot readings & channeling, scripting.

I don't have one.

Asleep or 5 senses method

Birthdays, christmas or Yule, Anniversaries

I don't know yet. Only holidays I have memories of are with Bruce Wayne during Christmas and Valentines Day with Billy Hargrove.

Renee West Wells is a forensic Anthropologist & Journalist as well as makes the costumes for Team Flash and Team Arrow. Michelle Renee in my Fame drs is an Indie Singer, scriptwriter and has her own makeup brand. Lilianne is a SHIELD agent, Mandy Moorington works at Scoops Ahoy as well as a record store, Isabella in my OUAT dr works at the library and Mr Gold's' shop when he's away.

In my Marvel dr I like collecting things, as well as reading, hanging out and playing board games or drinking games with the team. Peter, Pietro and I also like playing video games together. Renee in my Flash dr prefers having sleepovers with Caitlin & Iris or cuddling and watching a movie or show with HR & Harry. Drawing new costume ideas. Michelle in my Fame dr would probably being hanging out with her Crue drinking, having sex ect...or writing a new script or song lyrics. Also hanging out and playing with her kids. If it was My Fame dr with Sebastian they'd probably either be doing some light D/S play or hanging out watching a movie or having him read to her. Mandy in my ST dr would be cuddling with Billy, Eddie or Chrissy. Writing, reading or dancing. Also her and Chrissy doing each others hair and makeup. Bella in my OUAT dr would mainly be reading or hanging out with Ruby at the diner or with her sister.

I travel back and forth between The Avengers universe and XMen universe alot so if you count that... Also go on missions with SHIELD. She doesn't have a set place but she likes Madripoor kind of and Budapest. Renee would want to go to Italy or France. I also want to visit Greece with Tommy Lee because that's where his family is from and Romania with Seb.

My Marvel dr is partly based on the comics. I do have a Shadow & Bone dr but it's unscripted and I haven't tried shifting there. There are moments in my ST dr that is based around 'Flight of Icarus' Eddie's book.

Of course my Marvel dr takes place in the MCU (except GOTG) My Gotham 89 dr is based on the older Batman movies and the new Flash movie. Motley Crue's life is still like the one portrayed in The Dirt (just including me, they also look like them when younger)

My relationship with Tommy is based Pam & Tommy's in the miniseries. Obviously The Flash dr is from the series as well as LOT. Same with most of the Marvel shows (Loki & Hawkeye especially) My Mod Gotham dr is inspired by The Gotham series, TWD series, OUAT and Wonderland, Stranger Things Series.

Yes I've posted about them but in My Marvel dr I am a Valkyrie in one and a Mutant or super in the other. As Lilianne I have control over both light and shadow, as well as healing abilities and the ability to phase through if someone attacks me. (I have to be actively trying though) In My Flash dr I am a Storm Goddess with control over lightning and the weather. I also have magic in OUAT taught to me by Rumple. Since I am the daughter of The Evil Queen.

I already have when I shifted to My ST dr and saw Billy. I posted it HERE.

They all have very different styles since I'm so eclectic in my cr lol Ok I picked a name randomly and got Renee. So for her I'd say basic, classy, rich looking when going out (she went on a date with Harry once dressed casual and felt so self conscious) or dressing up in what her men like. A bit edgier when she's Obsidian Storm. I have an outfit post HERE.

I only have the idea for my rooms in my ST dr and I know what the rooms in My Fame drs due to memories. My room with Tommy looks like in the series and My room with Seb is also in creams and whites with a raised floor where the bed is which was a canopy bed with white lace curtains.

Mandy's room looks similar to this on the opposite wall is a floor length mirror and pink dresser.

8. Okay I got Amara who is Loki's girl and a Valkyrie. So that Marvel dr as a whole...

9. oooh I got Carrie aka The Carrion Crow! I do have a playlist for that Gotham dr.

Bellyache- Billie Eilish

Badder-Emlyn

Pretty Little Psycho- Porcelain Black

I'm gonna show you crazy-Bebe Rexah

Vicious-Bohnes

10. Whiskey and Motor oil (grease) remind me of Merle Dixon. I've literally smelled popcorn while watching the episode of Pam & Tommy where they go to the Barbed Wire premiere. I do have ClairSalience. Billy Hargrove smells like alcohol at times but mainly cologne and mint when I channel him.

11. Yes but I will talk about them in a seperate post.

12. I have tons. I usually write them down and post them on here. I will be posting about my Fame drs soon.

13. I don't make scenarios unless it's to help with writing my fanfictions. (like filling in holes) I find that if you call them scenarios then that causes your subconscious to think that reality shifting isn't real so it's harder to shift. I also find scenarios to seem forced as opposed to an actual memory that comes out of nowhere.

[starstruckunknown-princess]

Unexpected

Summary: You’re at Steve and Nancy’s wedding when you are completely blindsided when Corroded Coffin -- and your ex, Eddie Munson -- makes a surprise appearance. 

Pairing: Rockstar!Eddie Munson x Reader

Warnings: Drug use, Alcohol use, Eddie being a rockstar, past heartbreak

Word Count: 3154

A/N: Second time writing for Eddie. This is an idea I’ve been kicking around for a bit and has been hanging out in my Drafts so I figured I’d go ahead and put it up. Let me know what you think!

Follows/Likes/Reblogs/Comments are always always always appreciated!

April 25, 1992

Indianapolis was not your idea of a good time, but for Steve and Nancy and all the shit you’d all gone through you would suck it up. They were getting married, you could take a long weekend and make the trek back to your reluctant home state.

What you hadn’t counted on was how fucking fixated everyone was on you coming without a date. Your invitation didn’t have a plus one, so you hadn’t brought one. (Not that you could’ve found one…the Chicago dating scene had not been kind for the last two years.) But every person you’d talked to so far had noticed your lack of date, from Nancy’s mom to Steve’s grandma, even the ring bearer had asked his mom “Why is that lady alone?”

You’d never wanted to slap a child so badly. But you refrained.

So you found yourself outside between cocktail hour and dinner, leaning against the side of the hotel and smoking a cigarette. You’d tried to quit, but then the flashbacks would start or work would get stressful or you wouldn’t have a date to your high school best friend’s wedding.

Just as you lit up your next cigarette, you heard an almighty ruckus coming from inside the hotel ballroom. 

“Hello Indiana! We are Corroded Coffin here to celebrate Steve and Nancy’s wedding. Lovebirds, this is for you.”

“No…No fucking way,” you said, stubbing out the cigarette under your heel and heading back inside.

Sure enough, Hawkins’ only claim to fame, Corroded Coffin, was on the diminutive stage set up near the dance floor. Every wedding attendee under the age of thirty-five had flocked to the dance floor and were cheering so loudly you couldn’t hear yourself think. 

All you could hear was your blood rushing past your ears. Gareth pounded out a “One, two, one-two-three-four!” and you couldn’t help but remember all those Tuesday nights at The Hideout, cheering on the band and scoring beers with your fake ID. 

A server passed by with a tray full of champagne flutes and you grabbed two of them. 

Your eyes glanced over each member of the band — Grant had shot up about six inches and slimmed down, Jeff had sick dreadlocks and a wicked gold nose ring, Gareth’s face had lost the boyish quality but you could barely see it behind all the hair. But the band member who caught your attention most was the one you wanted to look at the least. 

Eddie Munson, lead singer and guitarist.

The boy who had broken your heart six years ago when he’d dropped you off at your dorm at Columbia College Chicago, then immediately announced that he was continuing west to chase his dream of being a rockstar.

You’d seen him since then, but mostly on magazine covers or posters in record store windows. Corroded Coffin’s rise to fame was fuckin’ astronomical, especially when they leaned into the Grunge sound. 

You desperately wanted to pretend you didn’t know every chord, every lyric to the love song they were playing right now. That you didn’t know that it was Track 5 on their third studio album, Freak Flag. 

Eddie looked good. He’d chopped his long locks to just above his ears and leaned into his natural curls. The scruff along his jawline was downright unfair and his plain white t-shirt was tighter around his chest and arms than you remembered. And ugh, his smile was so damn genuine and his big brown eyes soaked up all the light shining on him like two perfect black holes. Somehow, he gave off the same shaggy-sexy-chic thing as Kurt Cobain did. 

You downed one flute of champagne as you noticed him scanning the crowd, not nearly drunk enough to think he was looking for you. 

The love song, “Bed of Roses” ended and Steve and Nancy shared a sweet kiss in the spotlight. Everyone ‘awww’-ed, including you. Then Corroded Coffin launched into their big hit song that you heard every day on the radio, “Crime of the Century” and you couldn’t take it anymore.

You downed the second flute of champagne and made your way toward the door, stopping at your assigned seat to grab your purse and shawl, but when you turned to leave a familiar face stopped you. 

“Robin, hey!” you exclaimed. 

She furrowed her brow at you and crossed her arms. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Uhh,” you stammered, “I was going back to my hotel, it’s getting kinda late.” 

“It’s not even seven; we haven’t eaten dinner yet. I can’t let you leave.” 

“Let me? You okay there, Rob?” you asked. 

Jonathan appeared out of nowhere, making you jump out of your skin. 

“Steve and Nancy wanted us to keep you here until they’re done,” he explained, nodding toward the band and the cheering crowd. 

You shifted your weight and popped out your hip indignantly, “Seriously?”

Robin and Jonathan nodded. Knowing that they took their sacred duty to the newlyweds seriously, you pulled out your chair and sat down. They each sat on either side of you and the three of you made small talk until the band finished their mini-set and let the wedding band take over. 

“Shit, he’s coming over,” you said, clenching your fists to hide the shaking in your hands. Luckily he was swarmed the moment he stepped off stage, signing autographs on cloth napkins and pocket squares.

“Just be cool,” Robin said, putting a hand on your shoulder. You shrugged it off and stood up, nearly knocking your chair over. 

“Rob, I haven’t seen him in six years! Not since he ditched me and went to live his dream life in LA and broke my damn heart, what the fuck is he doing here?”

“Okay, well, we had this idea���” Robin’s eyes widened to the size of saucers, a dead giveaway that she was lying.

“It was my idea, Em,” Steve interjected, appearing behind Robin.

“Why, Harrington?” 

He rolled his eyes, “Oh come on, you haven’t dated anyone since you and I broke up.” 

“I’ve dated!” 

“It’s been two years since you’ve had anything close to a relationship,” Steve countered. 

“And, what, you think the guy who broke my heart and left me to pick up the pieces is how we fix this problem?” You crossed your arms and inclined your head toward where Eddie was chatting with Mike and Dustin, exchanging hugs and smiles. 

“Okay, come on,” Steve said, trying to cajole you. Robin and Jonathan exchanged nervous looks as they watched your metaphorical hackles raise. 

You stepped closer to him so you didn’t make a scene by shouting at him. “No you come on! Where do you get off manipulating me like this?” 

“We’re just concerned about you! All you do is work or sit alone in your apartment which, you know, isn’t the worst thing in the world but you seem really lonely and you have maybe one too many cats to be considered normal-” Steve insisted, putting his hands on your shoulders. 

“Well, well well, if it isn’t the old Family Video crew.” Eddie interrupted. You stepped back and away from Steve as he approached. “Steve, congratulations!” 

They hugged, Eddie pounding Steve on the back a few times. They broke apart and Eddie greeted Robin and Jonathan, his deep brown eyes finally landing on you.

“You look…incredible,” he said, and you watched him check you out. You thanked your past-self for wearing the dress that made your tits look incredible rather than the one that your friend Macy had helped you pick out. 

“You look good yourself, Munson. LA seems to agree with you.” You poked at the elephant in the room, seeing if he would take the bait.

His feet shifted uncomfortably and he rubbed the back of his neck, “We’re on tour actually, just happened to be swinging through-” 

“Yeah, you can drop the act, Munson, she knows we invited you,” Steve interrupted him, taking full credit for the bamboozle they’d pulled. 

“Gotcha. We are actually on tour, though, we pick up in Vancouver in a few days.” 

Robin’s face lit up with excitement, “Touring with Nirvana, right?”

Eddie smiled, “Of course you like Nirvana, Buckley.” 

“You’re the one who introduced us to them, right?” Steve said your name and pointedly looked at you. You rolled your eyes. 

“Yeah?” His smile turned toward you and you were absolutely not ready for it. Your knees turned to jelly and you looked away.

“Yeah. I did. Excuse me,” you said, making a beeline for the bathroom. Once safely inside, you braced yourself on the counter and let your head drop with a long sigh. Putting one clammy hand over your heart you could feel your racing pulse. You closed your eyes and focused on your breathing, the champagne finally hitting your system and helping to calm your nerves. 

Once you were well-settled, you splashed some cool water on your face and neck. You still had dinner to get through. Hopefully the newly wedded couple would be distracted enough to let you slip out before cake. You’d go back to your hotel, crash into the plush bed, and pretend that today had never happened. 

You exited the bathroom just in time for the servers to start presenting dishes. Luckily, Eddie was seated a few tables over with the Hellfire crew minus Mike, since he was a groomsman and sat with the wedding party.

Dinner was delicious, and you actually managed to relax a bit in the company of your tablemates. 

Robin babbled about how she didn’t mind that Steve was made District Manager of Family Video over her, she liked working at the district office anyway and didn’t involve her driving all over the damn state every week. 

Argyle and Eden were expecting their third kid, which is why Eden wasn’t drinking. They showed you pictures of their existing kids — each one with long dark hair and their mom’s bright eyes and their dad’s tawny skin tone. 

Jonathan had started dating a model and told you about his recent photography jobs that had taken him out to Los Angeles. Coincidentally, he had been hired to photograph Corroded Coffin for Rolling Stone a few months back. 

What fortuitous and suspicious timing, you thought. The puzzle pieces were falling into place. 

When the dinner plates had been whisked away, you turned to Argyle, “Hey, Argyle, are you holding?” 

He smiled dopily at you, “Holding your heart with my hands, babe.” 

“And what would Eden have to say about that?” His wife had excused herself to the bathroom. 

He chuckled and shrugged, then reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He produced a pre-rolled joint and discreetly passed it to you. “Purple palm tree delight for the beautiful lady.” 

“Thanks, Argyle.” You slipped him a five dollar bill before slipping out the same door you’d exited earlier. 

You lit up and inhaled, almost instantly feeling the effects of the weed. Your body relaxed against the wall and you looked up at the night sky. Only a few more stars were visible here than at home in Chicago.

“Hey there you,” Eddie’s voice interrupted your calm and you scowled at him. He held up his hands in surrender, “Look, I know you have every right to hate me, but just hear me out, ok?” 

“You know, I have imagined a million different scenarios like this. What would Eddie say to me if I ever saw him again? I’m curious to see where this goes, so the floor is yours.” You swept your arm in front of you, inviting him to continue. A part of you was indeed curious as to what he had to say in his own defense.

He took a deep breath and started pacing in front of you. “Right, okay, um…I…I’m sorry that I hurt you. I didn’t want to hurt you back then. I hurt me too, and I…fuck, I’m living my dream right now and it all feels wrong.” 

You took another hit, “Aren’t there any number of drugs available to you to help with that feeling?” 

“Who do I look like, Nicky Sixx?” 

You couldn’t help but laugh at that. “No, thank god. I’m glad you avoided becoming a hair metal band. Grunge suits you better.” You offered him the joint and he took it, your fingers brushing momentarily. 

“I agree,” he said, taking a hit and exhaling slowly before continuing, “You wanna know why I’m so successful? All I do is work,” another hit, “I get up in the morning, chug coffee, and then I get to work. I don’t party much, I don’t date. I work. I have notebooks full of shit that’ll last me into my eighties. I’m set for the rest of my life career-wise.” 

“Well, that’s…good for you. Why are you telling me this?” Maybe the weed and champagne was getting to you because you couldn’t connect the dots. He passed the joint back to you, then rested his back against the wall next to you. 

“It’s all empty. Because I don’t have someone in my life who loves me, really loves me. I wake up in my bed all alone, day after day.” 

You exhaled the smoke from your nostrils, “Should be an easy fix, you’re a rockstar! Aren’t you drowning in pussy?” 

“Nah, I leave all that groupie shit to Jeff and Gareth.” Waving a hand in front of himself as if fending off a horde of horny groupies. 

You shrugged, offering him the last hit, “I’m sure there are plenty of girls in LA who aren’t groupies.” 

Eddie nodded, “There are, but I need the right person to share it with,” he took the last hit, then tossed the remnants of the joint away, “The person I haven’t been able to get over since I left her at her dorm in Chicago.” 

The air left your lungs like you’d been punched in the diaphragm. What? He was…what was he saying? He still wanted you? After all this time? After all that had happened in your life since then? When you were able to take in a breath again, you shook your head to clear your muddled thoughts.

“Eddie, that was six years ago! I’m not the same person I was back then,” you insist.

“I know, but-” 

“No, no, you don’t get to do this. You don’t get to blindside me at my ex-boyfriend and dear friend’s wedding six years after you broke my heart! And you’re really standing here telling me that you aren’t reaping the benefits of being a rockstar? I know you did, I saw you!” you accused, jabbing a finger in his direction.

“What?” 

You didn’t particularly want to drag up this particular memory, but you had to in order to make your point. With a hand through your hair, you sighed, “December 23rd, 1987. Corroded Coffin’s first album exploded, I had just been broken up with and you guys were playing the House of Blues in LA. I thought I would surprise you for Christmas. I went to the show and…god, you were magnificent up there. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. That was the moment I realized…you were right to leave. You…you belonged up there and if you had stayed with me in Chicago, you wouldn’t have even gotten the chance.” 

“You were there?” 

“I even got backstage,” you laughed bitterly.  

“You got backstage?” 

“You came bouncing off after the encore, buzzing with energy and just…the happiest I’ve ever seen you. And then you bounced right into the arms of some dolled-up bottle blonde wearing little more than a bikini.” 

“Oh, shit.” 

“Then I knew -- I knew that if I approached you it would all go away and you would lose out on your dream. So I left. And five years later, here you are. Somehow back in my life.” 

“You don’t think this will work.” 

“You’re a rockstar! The lead singer and guitarist for one of the biggest bands in the world right now, and I’m a dance teacher from Chicago. Our lives are just…too different.” 

“You don’t even want to try?” 

“I don’t know, Eddie.” You truly didn’t. How could you be together when he was on tour and you had to work? There were phones but you had no idea if you could even afford a call from Minneapolis, let alone Seattle or Shanghai or Budapest. Did he expect you to quit your job and follow him? No way, he knew how much you loved your job. 

“Listen to me,” he said your name, gripping your hands in his and locking his big brown eyes onto yours, “I have been in love with you since you snuck ‘Heart of Glass’ onto the first mixtape you made me. I filled notebooks and four albums with songs about how fuckin’ badly I’ve missed you. I’ve been on six international tours, and every time I step on stage I search for you in the crowd and my soul aches when I don’t see you. I know you’ve grown and changed since I last saw you, but I have too. Let me show you what we could have. Please.” 

His pleas obliterated the walls around your heart that you had unknowingly built the day he left you at your dorm. Everything he’d done in LA had been about you, for you. He was begging you for another chance and you wanted to hand it to him on a silver platter. 

You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer until you rested your head on his shoulder. He smelled like leather and expensive cologne and a small hint of the weed you’d shared. “You’re a lot more eloquent, I’ll give you that.” 

He chuckled into your hair, “It’s all the writing. Spent most of ‘87 with my nose in a thesaurus.” 

You let your mind wander a bit, imagining him strumming a guitar with a pencil behind his ear or clutched in his teeth, scribbling down chord progressions or lyrics or doodling in the margins. 

You leaned back to look him in the face, knowing your answer. You’d known it since he’d approached you that night. You were ready to give it a go, for real, like adults this time.

“So how do you propose we do this?” 

Eddie ducked his head, brown curls brushing against your nose, hiding his beaming smile. “I have to be in Vancouver on Wednesday. When are you going back to Chicago?” 

“I have to check out of my hotel tomorrow by 11, but the wedding party is having brunch at 10:30.” 

“I’ll pick you up after? Drive you home?” 

“Yeah, okay.” 

“Can I kiss you?”

“You fucking better.” 

The kiss was absolutely electric. Six years of pent-up emotion releasing the moment your warm lips met. And in that moment you knew that this was the last first kiss you’d ever have.

Masterlist

[navybrat817]

Just saying...😉

wish my life was like a 90's movie where all my friends work in record stores and bookshops and coffee shops and we see really cool bands in small little clubs and get breakfast together and like hang out on roofs and shit

[upsidedownwithsteve]

Eddie Munson x fem!reader [1.1K]

To say you were weird would be unkind, Eddie thought. Certainly hypocritical. But you were most definitely odd, a strange, little thing in the most fascinating of ways and Eddie Munson was absolutely enthralled by you. 

He wasn’t sure when it had happened, or even how, but he found you in the passenger seat of his van most mornings, riding with him into town so he could drop you off at work before he began his own shift at the record store. You’d merely been a new neighbour, moving into a trailer two spots down and you’d waved one morning, arms stacked with odd bits. A book, a hideously green cardigan, two balls of yarn, a potted plant that looked a little worse for wear and a jar full of coloured beads. 

It started with him staring, wide eyed and unsure, listening to you quietly tell him all about each dog in the trailer park - their breed, their name, their favourite treat. Honestly, Eddie wasn’t even sure if the names you’d told him were real or simply ones you’d christened them with yourself. Either way, he was smiling by the time he dropped you off outside the bookstore, sundress erring on the side of too short, cherry red and floaty and completely mismatched to the odd socks and chunky boots you wore. 

You jingled when you walked, too many bracelets and bangles stacked on each wrist, gold chains wrapped prettily around your neck, a pendant that had a bug trapped in amber hanging from it. You were like a little music box, Eddie had thought, always hearing you before seeing you. 

He found you awfully endearing, too pretty to put into words, everything you did was done softly, delicate, like the sleepy way you spoke, like the way you said his name, all gentle and musical. 

You had a thing for pushing a finger to his cheek when you wanted his attention, fingernails always painted lilac and on the hot summer days, when you were both too lazy to do much, he’d join you on your trailer roof, blankets and towels laid out to protect you both from the hot metal, stretched out and half undressed as Eddie let you colour in his tattoos, work tiny braids into his curls. 

So yeah. To say Eddie was smitten with you was an understatement. 

It’s why his mouth went dry and his jaw fell slack when he picked you up from work one evening, van idling outside Main Street as he waited on you climbing in. 

It was still too warm, despite the way the sky was turning all the prettiest shades of orange and pink, and you clambered into the front cab in your floatiest dress. A too short white thing, printed with tiny sunflowers and Eddie grinned at your big boots, one knee bruised, the other scraped. 

“Hey, pretty,” he greeted softly, watching fondly as you got settled, kicking your feet up onto the dash and looking over at him. 

Your lips were glossy, a pretty pink colour that matched the flush on Eddie’s cheeks ‘cause you were staring at him in a way that he’d never quite gotten used to. Unabashed, without any shame, like you thought he was as pretty as he thought you were. 

“Hi, Eddie,” you replied, still watching him, cheek pushed to the van chair. 

“You’re up to something,” Eddie mused, making no move to drive off. He liked these little moments with you, before he drove you both home and had to watch you walk away. “You’ve got that look.”

“What look?”

“That one,” Eddie grinned, poking a finger to the tip of your nose, every small touch of his unbearably affectionate. “See?”

You’d tilted your chin up, tried to nip at his hand, barely catching his pointer and you huffed when snorted, pulling away. The setting sun was turning him rosy, all tangerine shadows and bright gold light. His brown eyes were a whole other shade of honey, your new favourite colour, you’d once told him. 

“I have something for you,” you said as if that explained it, that nervous, shy look that was on your face. You tucked your bottom lip between your teeth, feeling awfully unsure before holding your hand out and Eddie didn’t know whether he wanted to pull your poor, chewed lip from your teeth or accept your present. 

“You do?” Eddie blinked, leaning in a little more, curious, stomach lifting and dropping with excitement. 

“I made it for you,” you told him, breath hitching as he took it from your hand, the threaded bracelet that you hoped fit him. The braided strands matched the colours that were wrapped around your wrist, something that Eddie didn’t miss, a little detail that made his heart tumble in his chest. “Do you like it?”

Eddie looked a little dumbfounded, lips parted prettily as he blinked at you, holding the bracelet in his hands like it was made of gold dust. There was a tiny charm hanging from the end of it, a little bronzed bat that spun when he twisted the treads. 

“I love it, sweetheart,” Eddie murmured, finally looking up at you to smile wide, that pretty, slow stretch of a smile that made his dimples appear. “Fuck, ‘course I like it, it’s sick.”

You lit up and Eddie melted. You were too much, too sweet, too lovely. You scrunched your nose at him, overwhelmed with the praise and you didn’t hesitate when he held out his arm to you.

“Help me put it on, yeah?” 

So you crawled onto the middle seat, knees pressed to the chair, old sheet music wrinkling under your shins and you guided Eddie’s hand to sit in your lap. If you both shivered at the touch of him against your bare thighs, neither of you acted as if you noticed. 

You took your time, making sure the threads were straight and the knot was tied securely but not too tight, the little bat you’d chosen sitting nicely against his wrist. You hummed a little tune as you did so, one Eddie didn’t recognise and he wouldn’t have been all that surprised to learn you’d made it up on the spot. 

But he smiled as you worked, head bent so you couldn’t see the way he was gazing at you like a lovesick fool. But maybe, he thought, you sensed it anyway. ‘Cause when you were done, you lifted his wrist to your face, turning him gently until you could press the sweetest, little kiss to the inside of his wrist, just above where his new present sat. 

He cleared his throat when you caught him blushing, the highs of his cheeks all rosy and he had to duck his head as he fumbled with the keys, stalling the van, once, twice, before he managed to pull away. 

You were both grinning the entire way home.

[munson-blurbs]

hi bug! congratulations again on being un-glitched! I loooooved the headcanons you wrote last night about eddie and his hippie vegan girlfriend. I would LOVE to hear more about their first meeting outside the record shop, if you feel inspired to write more abt these two! you built such a fun lil world for the two of them, i just can't get enough! 💖

Anything for you, bb <3

For the purposes of historical accuracy, this takes place in 1991. Eddie + reader are 24.

WC: 647

--

Eddie had just planned to spend his Saturdays like he normally did: scouring the record store for any new releases. He loved finding underground bands that weren't really popular yet, playing their music while he worked at the auto shop during the week.

He wasn't expecting a small gathering of protesters to greet him outside, the leader of which was a really, really pretty girl.

"What's going on out there?" Eddie asks Hal, the manager, once he makes his way into the store.

"Protesting the Gulf War," Hal says. "They asked if they could use the parking lot, and I wasn't about to say no to that cause." Hal was a total hippie at heart; anti-establishment, constantly stoned, wearing tie-dye, and plastering peace signs around his office. "'Sides, we don't have anything big coming in this weekend."

Eddie nods; he'd overheard updates about the war on the radio, but had no idea that people in Hawkins were protesting it. It was more of a "shoot first, ask questions later" rather than a "make love, not war" kind of town.

"And, uh, the girl out there? In the front?" He tries to sound nonchalant as he asks, drumming his fingers on the countertop.

Hal laughs knowingly. "She's a cutie, isn't she?" he winks. "Don't know too much about her, but she seems like your type--stubborn with a heart of gold."

That's all Eddie needs to hear; he's out the door and standing alongside you before Hal can even process that he's gone.

"Hey," he greets you, taking a hand out of his pocket to shake yours. "I'm Eddie. You got any more of these signs?"

"Y/N," you reply, smiling at the lovestruck metalhead. "There should be some in that box back there," you tell him, motioning behind you.

Eddie chooses one that says "Fuck Your War" in big block letters. "Short, sweet, and to the point, huh?" he whispers to you, and he swells with pride when you laugh.

He spends the next hour chanting various anti-war sentiments. When a middle-aged man gets in your face, screaming about how Bush is the best president this country's ever seen, Eddie steps between you and him and pushes the guy away.

"Who the fuck does he think he is? Bet he wouldn't try that shit if you weren't young and cute."

You wrinkle your nose. "I'm not cute," you challenge, "I am very scary."

Eddie holds up his hands in surrender. "You're right, you're right. I'm terrified right now."

"Too late," you pout, feigning offense. "You have hurt my feelings beyond repair."

"Beyond repair?" Eddie chuckles. "There's nothing I can do to fix it?"

"Nope."

"What about if I take you out for pizza?" he asks hopefully. "In my experience, pizza heals all wounds."

"Actually," you tell him, bracing yourself for an onslaught of insults, "I'm vegan. So unless you find a pizzeria that doesn't serve cheese..."

His brow furrows in confusion. "Wait, you've never had sex?" he blurts out. "What does that have to do with pizza?"

You burst out laughing; you can't help it. "A vegan, Eddie, not a virgin. I am most definitely not one of those." He blushes at your honesty. "I don't eat any animal products. No meat, no dairy, no eggs."

"Oh," he nods slowly. "So what can you eat?"

"Pretty much anything else!" you say cheerfully. "There's actually a really good vegetarian restaurant that opened a few months ago. They have the best veggie burgers I've ever tasted, and their fries are incredible."

"So let's go there," he decides, and without thinking, he takes your hand in his. "Right after we finish up here, yeah?"

"I'd like that," you say, beaming at him. He looks at you and smiles right back.

She's like my little hippie princess, he thinks, though it'll be a few more dates until he actually calls you that.

--

[eddiescorrodedcoffin86]

In a Heartbeat

Part 1: Ballistic

Masterlist

Final installment to the Ballistic Series. I’ve enjoyed this journey and I hope you guys have too

Cheerleader!Harrington!Reader

Fluff. Smut. Pregnancy. Everything is okay now. You and Eddie have graduated. You still live in Hawkins. Breeding Kink. Mentions of Eddie having a very slight pregnancy kink but its mostly only pregnant you. Unprotected p in v sex (be safe, babes). Mentions of labor.

After getting back from the beach, things were difficult for a little longer, but thankfully, by the time graduation came around, you were feeling better, thanks to your friends, you’d tried to go to a therapist but they weren’t understanding enough, so you talked to your friends and Eddie whenever you were struggling, and it helped a lot since they understood where you were coming from, even if they didn’t always understand how you felt.

You and Eddie got a place together after graduation, a simple trailer on the nicer side of town, which Eddie was happy to do, excited to live somewhere where all the outlets work. As some who lives in a trailer this is a genuine and common problem. With your trust fund you and Eddie wouldn’t have to work, so you decided for a while you wouldn’t. Everyone spent a lot of time either at Family Video bothering Robin and Steve, who surprisingly wanted to keep working rather than split your trust fund, no matter how often you prodded he just wouldn’t give. When Robin and Steve were off of work, they piled into yours and Eddie’s trailer, interrupting some very personal moments more than once.

“Oh my god! In the kitchen?! Really?!” “This is our home! Who bursts in with knocking?!” “Who screws with the door unlocked?!” “We just got home! It just happened!” “OH MY GOD!”

Despite their… heavy lack of respect for privacy, you loved them all very much.. but right now… Eddie really wished they would all just go the fuck away.

You were at Skull Rock, you cuddled up underneath it with Eddie, Dustin off to the side. You weren't really listening what they were talking about, too focused on playing the edge of Eddie's Hellfire shirt, which the group had remade for him after he was out of the hospital, since his other one had been ruined.

Eddie was thumbing the ring box in his pocket nervously, unbeknownst to you he'd been saving up from his drug deals to get you a ring, and had even applied to the record store when he'd been walking back with it.

He'd had a whole elaborate speech planned out, of course he did, he was Eddie fucking Munson, the most theatrical person in Hawkins, and you absolutely loved him for it.

Deciding he couldn't wait any longer, he gently pulled away from you, winking at you when you frowned. "Where ya going?" You asked softly. "Nowhere." Eddie pulled you to stand, and when he started to get on his knee your eyes widened. "Eds-"

"OH MY GOD!" Dustin stood up quickly. "is he?" "Oh my god he is." "Wow." "Aww." rreactions echoed from your friends before Eddie even pulled the box out of his pocket, when he finally did pull it out, Dustin scared the birds.

Inside the box was a simple, skinny gold band, and rather than having one big diamond, the top of it had three small ones, if you looked close you could see a design engaved along the band. "Eddie..." You whispered softly.

"Sh. You're gonna make my brain short circuit." Eddie chuckled, clearing his throat. "i uh... I know it hasn't been long, like a year and a half.. but I've been through enough shit to know that uh.. I'm like positive I wanna spend the rest of my life with you. So... what do you say? Y/N Harrington, will you marry me?" He had the widest nervous grin on his face, and you couldn't help but laugh softly, nodding quickly. "Yes. Obviously, silly boy." You hld your hand out to him, watching as he slid the ring on your finger before he stood up and wrapped you in his arms, kissing you deeply.

Dustin was jumping around and screaming, celebrating with Max and Robin. Everyone else congratulated you, Steve giving you both a big hug and proceeding to tell Eddie not to fuck it up. Max was blind now, though you all expected that, she was only alive because of El, and surprisingly made a fast physical recovery, but she was still having trouble adjusting to being blind.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

You and Eddie left skull rock immediately, on the drive back to your trailer you could barely keep your hands off of eachother, when you were inside he had you against the door the second it was closed, tearing your clothes off as the two of you stumbled to your bedroom, giggling when he got frustrated with your bra, reaching back to undo it for him before sliding it off your shoulders and dropping it to the side.

“God… you are gorgeous.” Eddie mumbled before he was basically tackling you to the bed, covering you in kisses as you squealed. “Eddie!” You laughed, feeling his fingers start to tickle lightly at your sides.

Eddie grinned into your neck, letting his fingers stop before they slid over you, ghosting up your sides before sliding down to grip your thighs as he kissed you, his hands kneeding the soft flesh.

"Eddie.." you moaned, your thighs were always a weak spot for you, Eddie knew and used it to his advantage whenever he could, which was basically any time you were in the same room together.

It felt like a million years before Eddie finally started to drift lower, you were completely naked by now, anything that wasn't your bra strewn like a path to your bedroom, Eddie now only wearing his boxers, which you desperately wanted needed him out of.

Before you could say anything, though, Eddie was diving in between your legs like he was starving, starting with eager but perfect, precise licks through your folds before he'd set the tip of his tongue against your clit, circling the sensitive bud. "Fuck.. always taste so good." Eddie mumbled before he was diving back in again, his hands gripping your thighs as his eyes closed.

"Jesus Christ.." you moaned happily and rocked up against his mouth as you whined, tangling your fingers in his hair and tugging gently, a grin spreading across your face when you felt more than heard him moan against you before he brought one hand off your thigh to ease two fingers into you, still focused on suck and licking your clit, mumbling out different praises that were muffled against you and sent vibrations through almost your entire body. "Eddie~" you whimpered happily, back arching as you shuddered, breathing heavily and chewing on your lip.

"Always so responsive, Bunny." Eddie pulled back for a moment to speak before he was diving back in, eyes closing once more. He could stay like this for hours, you're sure, if you ever let him, of course you were always more eager to have him inside you, so you'd always pul him away from his agenda. Tonight, though, when you gripped his hair and tried to tug him up to kiss you, he whined and stayed planted where he was, gripping your thighs tighter, pulling them closer to keep himself caged in, gazing at you over your mons.

You gazed down at him, of course you did, how could you not? "Look so pretty, Eds." You whined happily, reaching down to grab the wrist that was holding your thigh as his other hand slid down and two fingers circled your hole slowly before easing in, your slick combined with his spit providing more than enough lubrication.

You sucked in a breath and moaned as your back arched a little bit. "Eds~ please~" you moaned, your head falling back and your eyes closing as he slowly thrusted his fingers into you, lapping and sucking lightly on your clit. "We've been interrupted nonstop for the past month." Eddie mumbled, pulling away from your clit with a soft pop. "I'm making you cum at least once before I fuck you. So you're gonna have to be patient up there, Bunny." He shook his head and went back to sucking and licking your clit, fucking you harder with his fingers, pushing his fingers as deep into you as he could, crooking his fingers to massage that little spongey spot inside you, just enough for the knot to start building and keep you just on the edge of it.

Your legs started trembling, he had you right on the edge, the sounds of your moans mixing with Eddie's muffled ones, and the obscene squelching as he pushed a third finger into you and going back to thrusting his fingers inside you. When he added the third finger he finally started to put more pressure against your gspot, massaging it in a come-hither motion. "E-Eddie~" you moaned louder, your back arching as you dug your heel into his back gently, your other leg stretching out. "Go ahead, Bunny." Eddie purred against you, sucking harder on your clit as he added more pressure to your gspot. "Cum for me and I'll give you what you really want." "Y-You promise?" You whined, dropping your head back as you shuddered. Eddie had gotten into the habit of teasing you once you'd gotten back into the groove again, stretching out his foreplay and even lying about how many orgasms he'd give you before fucking you.

Eddie cooed lightly against you before pulling off with a pop, replacing his mouth with his thumb, rubbing your clit good enough that it made up for the lack of his tongue. "I promise." He purred, bringing his free hand up to brush some flyaways off your forehead. "Cum for me, pretty girl." He purred, pressing kisses along your neck and collarbone. You whimpered happily and turned your face to bury in his hair, gasping and moaning loudly as you started to cum, grabbing Eddie's arm as your legs started to tremble again. "Fuuuuuuck." you whimpered.

"Ohh, good girl." Eddie purred as you creamed around his fingers, chuckling fondly. "so easy to get you to do it." He teased as you hit his shoulder weakly. When he didn't stop the movment of his hand, or make any move to pull himself out of his boxers, you whimpered. "No- no, Eds, you promised." You whined, shifting needily as you looked up at him.

Eddie chuckled softly. "Oh, calm down." Eddie purred, reaching and pushing his boxers down. "I got you." He cooed, sliding his fingers out of you and grasping his cock, sliding your cum over the length of his cock before sliding his tip through your folds slowly. "You're just so pretty when I tease you a little." He whispered, running his thumb over your cheek before kissing you as he eased into you, the two of you moaning happily as your eyes fluttered "Fuck.. you always feel so good, baby." He sucked on your neck lightly as he pulled all the way to the hilt, nuzzled deep inside you as he took a deep breath.

"You do too, Eds. Always." You whimpered happily, looking up at Eddie, his hips grinding into you, but not quite pulling out yet. The movement was pulling the sweetest sounds your mouth, Eddie was practically melting against you, his face was nuzzled in your neck, one hand holding the other side of your neck as the other slid up your arm and into your hand, you didn't know when he wiped his hand off, but you were glad he did as your fingers laced together.

When he finally started to actually thrust, it was long, slow drags of his hips, pushed as deep inside you as he could. "What... are you trying to do... Eds?" You moaned and arched your back against him. "G-get me pregnant or something?" You teased, wrapping your legs around him, though as soon as the thought popped into your head, you wanted nothing more, and judging by the whimpering sound Eddie made in response, he felt the same way.

"What if I said yes?" He whispered, leaning back a bit, pushing deeper into you and staying still. "What if I wanna keep you full of little Eddies?" He hummed, nudging his nose against yours. You shuddered at the idea. "I'd say you better get started." You moaned, grinding your hips as your eyelids fluttered closed.

Eddie practically mewled like a kitten when you said, immediately starting to rock back into you, nuzzling his face into your neck and whining happily. "Can't wait to have you full." He purred softly. "You're gonna be so pretty, Bunny. Round and glowing." He pressed his forehead against yours gently, your breath mixing together as you both panted softly. "Y-you really think?" You whispered softly, sentence ending with a soft moan when he grazed you gspot. "Oh yeah." Eddie cooed, gazing down at you with so much love in his eyes you thought you were gonna explode. "Gonna look so pretty." He whined happily.

You loved when Eddie got whiney, it always made you feel extremely confident. You could take this extravagant, out-of-the-box, eccentric man and turn him into a whiney mess with just a few words.

"D-do it, Eds." You moaned happily. "Fill me up. As many times as you want. Only wanna have your babies." You whimpered, wrapping your arms around him tighter. He groaned happily and started snapping his hips into yours, reaching down to rub your clit in slow circles. "You first, baby. Cum for me and I'll fill you up good." He purred, nudging his nose against yours as he rubbed your clit. With you already being sensitive from cumming once it didnt take much longer for you to cum again, moaning loudly as your back arched and your nails dug into his back.

Eddie moaned happily into your neck and thrusted harder into you, losing his rhythm a bit before he was cumming hard, groaning loudly into your neck as his muscles trembled under your fingertips, his hips pushed deeply inside you, cumming deep inside you. "Fuck... you're gonna be so pretty and full." He purred, covering you in kisses as you blushed deeply, hugging him tightly and giggling softly.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

You and Eddie decided that although you didn't want a big wedding, you still wanted a ceremony, as soon as possible, which made it difficult to find an officiant for the wedding. Eddie's remaining reputation didn't help, of course, and you didn't want to get married in a courthouse.

You'd been freaking out about this when Steve surprised you, laying a certain in front of you in the living room of yours and Eddie's trailer, stating that Steve had become an officiant. Your tears, rather than subsided, had gotten worse, now turning from sad cries to happy ones, you threw your arms around him.

And now, here you were, walking down the small aisle, wlaking towards a tearing up Eddie, a barely visible bump trying to show in the white dress Joyce had given you, having bought it as soon as Dustin called Will to tell him that the two of you were getting married. It fit you perfectly both style and size wise. You don't think Eddie'd noticed yet, Hell, you had just noticed yourself, you'd just thought your late period was just that- a late period. You figured the morning sickness was just some kind of funky flu or something, the test you'd sent Joyce out to get earlier said otherwise, and so did the other one in the box.

Ever since you and Eddie had talked about it while having sex, Eddie could barely shut up about it, telling you that as long as you were okay with it he was gonna try and get you pregnant until you got pregnant, and how could you say no when he was giving you the sweetest, most vulnerable look you'd ever seen? You were more than happy to have Eddie's babies, you were just glad you'd gotten a trailer with a spare bedroom, which you were using for when the gang would sleep over, but now, it was going to be a nursery.

Eddie, of course, had noticed a few things different about you, your skin was softer, and brighter, your eyes were brighter as well, your lips were pinker and your cheeks always had this rosey tint that he knew didn't come from any kind of make up you wore. He couldn't quite place what it was, but he was falling in love with you even more. As he watched you walk down the aisle, his eyes welled with tears as Steve set a hand on his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze, Dustin, who was his best man, doing the same on his other side.

"You look... amazing." Eddie whispered once you made it in front of him, your lips spreading into a sheepish smile. "You don't look so bad, yourself." You teased. He'd ditched his ripped jeans for a pair of new black jeans, paired with a black button up, a white bowtie, and a black suede blazer, the bushiness in his hair tamed for the occasion. He grinned and looked at himself, and then back at you. "Well, thank you." He hummed happily.

The set up was simple, an arch Hopper had built, decorated with flowers that the younger ones of the group collected, that honestly surprised you a bit, especially considering it was Eddie's idea, exclaiming his girl would only have the freshest, most clean flowers for her only wedding, a statement to which you giggled at but agreed with.

"Alright, Harrington. Let's get this show on the road." Eddie smirked at Steve before taking your hands, everyone else laughing. Your parents weren't there, but you didn't care much, everyone that meant something to you was there, and that was all you needed.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Eddie had the exact reaction that you thought he'd have, he'd immediately hopped onto his feet and starting hopping around the tiny reception giggling like crazy. He'd immediately ran to the mike, interrupting the band as he pointed at you.

"I'm gonna be a daddy!!!!" He shouted into the microphone. Dustin screamed, Steve looked.. slightly protified at the prospect of you having sex, even though he'd caught you multple times because he couldn't knock without immediately opening the door.

Jeff, and Gareth shouted. "Munson! Munson! Munson!" over and over, Eddie nodding along with them excitedly as he made his way over to you, wrapping his arms around you and kissing you deeply. "One Hell of a wedding present." He cooed.

"Just wait until we get home." You smirked, winking at him as his eyes wideed and his pupils expanded. "Yeah?" "Oh yeah." "Well, now I'm excited." You laughed and shook your head fondly before nuzzling his neck.

Throughout the whole pregnancy Eddie could barely keep his hands to himself, he was always touching you, appropriately if you were around people, inappropriately if you weren't, he made you cum at the very least twice a day, even if it was just with his fingers or his tongue to help reliev some tension. It was always followed by an amazing shoulder and foot rub before he would send you off to sleep talking to your ever-growing stomach.

When you went into labor, Eddie had been prepared, for the whole nine months... and then the baby decided to come, and all his preparedness flew out the window and he was calling Steve. "SHE'S COMING, MAN!!" "Eddie? it's like three am. What are you- Who's- SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE PHONE WITH ME?!" It took Steve's brain a second to catch up "I CAN'T FIND THE KEYS, MAN! I CAN'T FIND THE KEYS!" "Oh for fuck- I'M COMING! BE OUTSIDE!"

Steve pulled up in record time, opening the door and putting your and Eddie's bags in the trunk as Eddie helped you get in the back, climbing in directly beside you and closing the door. Steve got in and sped to the hospital.

When the doctor asked how far apart your contractions were and you said that they weren't, like at all, they rushed to get you ready for delivery, letting Steve and Eddie stay when you asked, Eddie had been by your side, Steve a little more hesitant, but when you reached for him, he was practically tripping to comfort his sister, not looking anywhere other than your eyes, pulling your hand up for you while Eddie fanned you.

It didn't take long for little Vera Munson to come out, coming out with already thick curly hair, and blue eyes that turned brown when she turned six months old, a perfect copy of Eddie but with your nose.

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Eddie and Vera were practically inseparable, and as she grew up you moved out of your trailer into a bigger, nicer home that you continued to fill with little babies that absolutely adored their metalhead father, Vera effectively breaking a kids nose in first grade when he told her that his dad said her dad was a freak, eventually no one said anything about Eddie anymore, knowing one of his many, many children could be hiding around the corner, ready to punch first and ask questions later, you and Eddie couldn't be more proud of them.

You didn't expect Eddie Munson to be the love of your life, you definitely didn't expect to have eight kids for him, the youngest four being sets of twins, the man was relentless, getting you pregnant every time you turned a corner, but you didn't mind, each and everyone one of your little spawn was absolutely wonderful. You were completely cotent with where you were, and you had to do it all over again to get here, you absolutely would, in a heartbeat.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Tag list:

@lunar-flwr @dahliarose3 @minimnmsdotcom @ranibewsprimskle @fabienne250503 @camcanyon @catherinnn @kaz120 @kiki51199 @babyali622 @nanamunath @giovannasgarden @munsonboyblog @meaganjm @kooksfor-life @ali-r3n @manitskatrina @you-arethepan @sleepy-zodiac @ilostmysoulbruh @literallylikepoison @mxbrbi @lov3ly-3m @slutfor-munson @slut-for-fictional-men-kms @rmeddar123 @redpool @spookykylie @sebby-staan @vulcrum332 @raybaeray @that-one-writer @littlebatsimagines @imagine-all-the-imagines @tvserie-s-world @geekmom3 @mlvgren

[catherinemorales]

Just a little fluffy stuff

Steve Harrington x Y/n (Harrington?)

Steve is driving the RV that everyone collectively stole. Nancy is in the front seat and your sitting in between Dustin and Eddie.

Steve’s talking about his future with you. Your listening in because you want to know what he’s gonna say. Then he says something along the lines of six kids.

“SIX KIDS?!” You shout and everyone looks at you.

Steve turns bright red and Nancy is laughing really hard.

Your head begun spinning. You had graduated. You lived in a apartment with Steve. You worked at a record store and was in college. You were stable but couldn’t imagine 6 kids.

Everyone is very silent the rest of the time. When the RV stops and you all get out you pull Steve behind.

“Really?” You ask him.

“What?”

“6 kids?”

“It’s just a dream.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not like it’s gonna happen.”

“It could.” You say looking at him. You wrap your arms around his neck and look up at him. “We’d have to get married first. I would have to graduate college. Get a good job.”

“We could do it.” (You and Steve had been dating since he broke up with Nancy. They broke up because she knew he loved Y/n more than her. Then Y/n and Steve got together)

“You want to get married?”

“Yes.”

“Did I just propose?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a ring?”

“Maybe.” He says and kisses your forehead. He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a small box. “It’s not the best and i was gonna wait I’ve just been carrying ig around since I bought it.”

He opened the box and it was a gold ring with a little diamond.

“I know it’s small,”

“I love it. I love you. If we survive im gonna marry you.”

“Y/n Harrington?”

“Steve Y/l/n?”

“We can talk about it.” He says kissing you as you put on the ring and walk into the store.

[machinations-ii]

Debut Album of The Strokes' Is This It and Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights.

TURN ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS

New York City was in transition in 2002, the devastation of 9/11 still lingered but a new sense of goodwill and compassion flowed through the city with dozens of bands reanimating a faded glory that had come to define the Giuliani era. Arriving after several well-regarded EPS that honed Interpol's Sonic and sartorial sense, it's possible no album captured this moment as vividly as their debut turn on the bright lights. Interpol took shape at NYU in the late 1990s where the band formed partially as a result of mutual fashion appreciation. Frontman Paul banks had come across bassist Carlos dangler in their dorm wearing skin tight black clothing and a giant crucifix. Meanwhile guitarist daniel kessler had already gotten to know Dengler in a world war 1 class after approaching him with a compliment about his shoes, and the trio eventually found replacement drummer Sam Fogerino while he was working in a used clothing store. Soon after coming together, the group started to jam at Funkadelic studios, PDA was already in embryonic form by then. After hustling in the NYC circuit and recording here and there, a chance meeting with Emma Pollock of the Delgado's led to the release of an Interpol EP in 2000 on the esteemed chemical underground label. On the heels of the EP success and in the midst of the post strokes gold rush in New York City, Interpol scored a deal with Matador Records then home to bands like Belen Sebastian, yo a tango, and pavement. Chris Lombardi of Matador claimed that he was most impressed by the business-like manner with which the band conducted themselves the suits first and foremost. Interpol decided to record turn on the bright lights at producer Peter Quedas's home studio in Bridgeport Connecticut to avoid all of the temptations New York City had to offer a hot young band while Cadis has gone on to produce the national, Frightened Rabbit, and Yan C, his most recent credit prior to turn on the bright lights was engineering the get up kids on a wire. Sessions were contentious Carlos D had wanted more keyboards, more nights on the town, and the title of the record to be celebrated baselines of the future. If banks had his way, PDA wouldn't have even made the record. However Quedas protested and told him that's their hit single, which it was. Quedas was not enthused with the new, until the final mix which had him in tears. But for all the seriousness and grandeur of turn on the bright lights moments of humor abounded. The spoken intro of Stella was a diver and she was always down; was recorded while banks was ad-libbing with ice in his mouth “this one called Stella was a diver she's always down”. Anchored by Carlos D and Fogerino’s hulking rhythm section, Banks created it in New York City recognizable to its citizens but in cryptic indelible lyrics. “The subway was a porno”, “relationships were a bracelet” and “they had 200 couches for you to sleep” when it all felt like too much. Beginning with a crowd stoking instrumental that would foreshadow runs opening for U2 and the Cure, turn on the bright lights resulted in music of unusually sweeping and grandiose gestures that felt foreign to rock music in general at the time but especially to indie rock. It's hard to imagine the transition towards the post-punk bombast of Arcade Fire, The Killers, and the National without Interpol opening the lane first. While local papers would occasionally snark at them as fashion victims and post-punk dilettante, critical acclaim for turn on the bright lights was overwhelmingly positive. The brilliance of turn on the bright lights is all the more apparent 19 years later a beacon that continues to shine radiantly during its city's darkest moments. IS THIS IT

Fueled by hype that was extraordinary even by the standards of the British press, The Strokes became instant superstars in the UK long before their fellow Americans heard “is this it” thirty-six stylish lo-Fi down-and-dirty minutes of unwholesome Downton Blues that evoke The Velvet Underground, The Ramones, television, and countless others who will firm New York City as the epicenter of punk rock cool, the strokes debut was already in stores in the UK for months before its eventual American release mere weeks after the September 11th attacks. Is this it subsequently took on an unintended resonance and became a sentimental document of a New York City that would no longer exist after Rudolph Giuliani, gentrification, and the war on terror. The Strokes may not have saved rock and roll themselves but The Libertines, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, the killers, and the Arctic Monkeys likely wouldn't exist without “is this it”. while several members of The Strokes have been playing together since high school in a project called “just pipe” the band truly took shape after guitarist Albert Hammond jr. joined the group he and singer Julian Casablancas attended the same Swiss boarding school and reconnected after Hammond returned to New York City and serendipitously moved across the street from Elite Model Management which just so happened to be owned by Casablancas’ father. Contrary to the stereotype of The Strokes as a prefab overnight success, the group struggled throughout the late 90s playing to empty rooms before their demo got the attention of Rough Trade ANR man Jeff Travis, nor were they predator naturally cool from the start. before The Strokes first gig Hammond claims the band was so nervous they watched the Eddie Murphy movie Bowfinger to calm themselves. Preliminary sessions for is this it were recorded with Gil Norton best known for his work with the Pixies but also Foo Fighters “ultra slick the color in the shape” for the album itself The Strokes would reunite with Gordon Raphael who previously produced the modern age EP. The unorthodox production of “is this it” was the result of Raphael using a minimal number of microphones and following Casablancas says requests to have it sound like your favorite blue jeans not totally destroyed but worn in comfortable. According to Raphael an A&R guy named Steve obelisk II held is this it most unprofessional sounding music that he has never heard. The strokes declined the invitation from MTV to play alongside the vines in the hives at the 2002 Video Music Awards. The band didn't want to be lumped in to quote the new rock revolution it consisted of mostly bands with the word the and a plural noun in their names. Casablancas told MTV I'm not going to do a band off with them and strokes manager Ryan gentle said “that was pretty much the last time we were played on MTV”. The infamous bare-bottom on the international release of is this it is that of photographer Colin lanes girlfriend, however concerns about whether conservative chain stores like Target and Walmart would carry the record but The Strokes to switch to the American cover shot of a subatomic particle in a bubble chamber Casablancas is rumored to have liked it even more than the original. A more crucial alteration from the international version involves the removal of its own, New York City cops all involved agreed that a chorus of New York City cops they ain't that smart would be considered in poor taste after 9/11 even if the song was written years previous by removing the song from the US release of is this it there's not a single song in a Strokes album that has mentioned New York City by name. Well The Strokes achieved a level of popularity rivaled by few American bands in the 21st century is this it was considered a commercial disappointment in its time it peaked only at number 33 on Billboard while lead single last night topped out at number five of the modern rock chart with some day stalling at Number 17. Long story short, these two albums (and arguably two of the best rock albums of all time) had left a dent in my

life for it defined my teenage years when I had nothing, lost, and frustrated with my life. It reminded me the melancholic time that I had in the past. So I'll leave you guys with a lyrics from each album and try to find the song that corresponds to it :). "I have 7 faces, and I know which one to wear" "Soma is what they would take when hard times opened their eyes and saw pain in a new way"

[heartofsnark]

Can You Feel The Sun? (Chapter Five): Just To Want It All

Notes: As stated in last chapter notes, i have a decent chunk of chapters done so these are coming out pretty rapid fire. Otherwise, I don’t have much to say other than massive thanks to my friend who reads these over for me and has been cool with me dropping 80+ pages of fic on them in a week. because yeah...I finished another chapter of this. 

Word Count:  7885

Chapter Warnings: mentions of alcohol and cursing, if that counts as a warning in cyberpunk 2077.  

If you haven’t yet, you can read the previous chapter here!~

Lizzie’s Bar stands out brilliantly in the city; out of all the gangs, she thinks she likes The Moxes aesthetic the best. Vivid pink and bright teal. Their colors splashed across the overpass, along with a neon pink skull sign with hair and a bow. At the side of the building is a towering neon skull girl sign, full bodied with an animated kicking leg and axe held above her head, the same hot pink color.

She parks and gets out of her car, doing a quick scan of the area, searching for more Militech drones. None that she sees, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. The credchip burns in her pocket, remembering some of the stuff T-Bug has taught her. How to crack an encrypted shard and see what’s on it, how to transfer its contents. V rifles through her bag, remembering she had a blank credchip somewhere. If Militech did anything dirty, V should be able to transfer the eddies onto a clean chip.

V makes a beeline to the front door, cement blockers and walls covered in graffiti.  More neon signs, the bars name over the door in glowing turquoise letters. Lizzie Jizzie scrawled across an outside wall; two screens on each side of the double stores, all covered in Nicola ads requesting V ‘taste the love’.  Groups of people loiter in the open outside the bar. V’s eyes are drawn to the two bouncers outside the doors.

Two women, one leans against the outside wall as she puff away on a cigarette. Short slicked back hair that starts blue and then fades to green, eyes hidden behind sunglasses and a gold septum piercing in her nose. The other one stands in front of the doors, a yellow spiked bat held over her shoulders. Long hair pulled up into space buns, purple roots and pink ends. Both of her arms are metal; black with pink and teal accents as well as spikes along the forearms.  Both women are skimpily dressed, no shame in that. The one wielding the bat has a white top with cleavage going beyond her breasts,  showing her almost plastic looking skin and the Moxes tattoo across her chest. The other shorter haired bouncer is wearing neon pink pasties beneath a teal bomber jacket.  V’s been here before, has maybe seen them in passing, both really attractive. She’s not sure there’s a Mox member who isn’t.

“Hey there, dollface!~” The bat wielder greets her with a grin, as if she could actually see V’s face.

“Interest you in a preem BD?” The smoker offers.

“What you got?” V asks to be polite, she doesn’t honestly even like brain dances. But the girls are cute, so… no harm in a little small talk.

“What don't we got? Women and men of your dreams, synaptic acting A-listers. No washed-up virtuporn boytoys or blow-up dolls here.”

“Auteur stuff - It'll grip your heart and blow your nerves right outta your body. Pure bit-based ecstasy - that’s why people come here.”

“Sure know how to sell it, don’t you?” V signs, trying not to laugh as the bouncers give her the spiel.

“Not a sales pitch, it's a warning. I'll give you one word - bespoke. Not for everyone's synapses.”

“Think you can handle it?”

“Think I can manage it,” she tells them, knowing damn well she has no intent to get any sort of virtus.

“Mmhm. Couple of things you need to know first,” she affectionately rubs her bat, “Ahem. Severe penalties for any unauthorized recording… “

“No drugs, no groping. Someone catch your eye, you do not grab 'em. You find 'em in the catalog, ask for a BD and get yourself a box.”

“No worries, not even my first time here.”

“Door's open. Have fun, Doll.”

“Welcome to Lizzie’s.”

The double doors open and V walks through a blue beaded curtain. There’s a front room, a stand where a woman with a bright pink mohawk is selling clothes, under another Nicola ad and neon letters saying ‘Fuck To Death’ behind her.

“My what a sweet face you have,” she says, her tone honeyed but its clear she hasn’t looked up from the counter, not even noticing as the masked merc walks past through another beaded curtain and double doors to the main club.

“Here in Night City~”

Music thrums as she steps in; the room is lit with strobing pink and teal lights. Couches with neon glowing lights on the underneath, some people with BD wreaths and others playing on their phones. People dancing  to the club music and  bar tucked away in the corner.  She doubts the client will be right at the start of opening, so V finds an empty stretch of couch, sitting down on black leather with a pink neon light at her feet.  V slides the Militech cred chip into her mask, it takes a moment, but she manages to crack it and get a look at the inside.

Ten thousand eddies and malware; it was meant to send all of Maelstrom’s data to another server and then fry the systems. Meaning, if V handed it over Maelstrom would get their systems fried, with her and Jackie dealing with the aftermath. V slides the blank cred chip into another slot in her mask’s edge, transfering the clean money over to it. Fucking around with tech and daemons isn’t her strong suit, but if she recalls Bug telling her that fairly simple malware like this could be reworked pretty easily. She works through the coding with her thoughts, the data and interface all on her mask. If she can get the coding right, she might be able to have it send something other than data back to the Militech servers…  Shifting and twisting what she thinks will work… if she’s done it right, instead of sending data back to Militech’s server, it should inject the same malware back into their system. If used, it would spike both Maelstrom and Militech.

She’ll call up T-Bug before they hit Maelstrom, double check she did the steps right. If Maelstrom play nice, they can pay and be done, if not...she can fuck over the gangoons, Militech, and walk away with an extra ten thousand in her pocket.  She puts the credchips in her pockets, spiked one in her left and clean one in the right.

Time to have a look around for the client. V making a beeline for the bar, bartenders always have all the info. Lizzie’s Bar in neon over the drink station, a brightly blue lit corner where a man works at making drinks, shelves of booze behind him.  She climbs onto a blue vinyl bar stool, feet no longer on the ground and unable to resist swinging them a bit. The bartender comes to her; a man with slicked back dark hair,  glowing white cybernetic eyes, and silver embellishments run across his cheeks and jaw. His shirt bright blue with a tropical design and if not for a single button above his pants, it’d be completely open. Beaded necklaces bringing even more attention to his exposed chest and stomach.

“Get you something?”

“Looking for Evelyn Parker,” she speaks the woman’s name, not wanting to waste time fingerspelling it even if the sound feels tight in her throat.

“And you are?”

“V, me and her were supposed to meet here.”

“Well, V,  it’s a pleasure. I’m Mateo.”

“Nice to meet you… any idea where she’s hanging around?”

“Club's big. Gonna have to look around. Can't do it for you-”

“It's all right, Mateo,” a feminine voice calls out and V’s eyes are drawn to a woman at the bar, “I was waiting for this one.”

There’s something about her, distinctly Mox and also not. Her hair is a short vivid blue bob with bangs cut straight across her forehead. Heavy makeup, a tight silver sequin dress with a dipping neckline, red thigh high vinyl boots, a black trench coat that pools around her knees with a pink and white feathered collar.  She holds two fingers up to the bartender and moves to the bar stool closer. There’s a clang and tink of glass; Mateo getting out a bottle of tequila and two shot glasses.  

“That won’t be necessary,” V signs before he can fill the second glass, “I don’t drink on the job.”

“Aww, what a good girl,” Evelyn coos, a smile pulling at her painted lips, “Evelyn Parker. I knew it was you as soon as you walked in.”

“And you decided to let me wander around instead of introducing yourself?”

“I wanted to get a good look at you first.”

“And?” V watches as Evelyn takes a swig of her tequila.

“Rest assured, if I didn’t like what I see, you’d know,” she takes another drink, “C'mon. Know a place we can talk where ears won't prick up to listen. We'll be in the lounge, Mateo. Anyone asks we're not here.”

Evelyn takes her black clutch purse and leaves the bar, V puts some money down for Mateo; if nothing else to compensate for his time. V hops down from the stool and follows after Evelyn, through a pair of double doors that goes into a hallway tinted red and pink, booth doors lining the way. The blue haired woman opens up a door, standing to the side as V walks in.

The booth is small, circular with a red vinyl couch around it’s curve, a table in the middle projects a hologram of a stripper who twists and dances. V sinks into the cushions, watching Evelyn stride in and light a cigarette as the door closes behind her. Everyone in the city a smoker it seems.  As Evelyn puffs on a cigarette, V is somehow just noticing the gold nail like finger caps she wears.

“Dex had a load to say about you. Called you professional, effective. And trustworthy. I hope he wasn't overselling…“

“You don’t give a shit what he says,” V retorts, not missing the tinge of disdain Evelyn’s voice. V doesn’t need anyone to blow wind up her ass.

“You have trouble accepting compliments?”

“Flattery’s beneath you.”

“Maybe Dex is beneath you,” Evelyn moves around the table, grabbing an ashtray from the table, then sitting down next to V, crossing her legs, “Have you known each other long?”

“First time working with him.”

“Hmmm, I've heard there are two kinds of fixers. Those with stable crews on long contracts and short leashes. Loyalty and predictability they value above all else. Then there's the other kind- Dex's kind.”

“Meaning?”

“Headhunters. They lay their trust elsewhere, not in people but in a thing- their intuition. They bet on potential. And if they lose that bet…It's the last mistake they ever make. I’m hoping Dex’s intuition served him well in this case.”

“Let's get to the point, why am I here, what’s this about?”

“Your target - I trust you know what it is.”

“Arasaka biochip.”

“Mmmhmm, their Relic, secure your soul technology. Arasaka's poured billions into personality transfer technology. But me - I just want the data on this one. The chip is tucked away inside Konpeki Plaza, the hotel. You ever been?”

“Fancy corp hotels? Yeah, no, way out of my price range.”

“The decor's to die for. As you'll see for yourself.’

So, V and Jackie have to bust into some fancy hotel to get the chip people are arguing about on tv. Understood, so far. But, theres a lot of risks involved in a heist of this scale. Its one thing to rip off a dropped piece of cargo or a convoy from a corp; but this kind of top notch tech?

“You know where the chip is, exactly?”

“In a suite on the top floor. The room's occupied by Yorinobu Arasaka.”

V swallows the lump in her throat, the son of Saburo Arasaka, heir to the entire fucking corp. She’s once again finding herself wondering why Dex thinks her and Jackie can handle a job of this caliber, the Arasaka’s seem downright un-fucking-touchable to a merc like her.

“He’s in NC?”

“Don't you read the screamsheets?”

“Not particularly, no.”

“Well, the media couldn't get enough of Yori coming to Night City, it was all over the headlines. He's heir apparent to the Arasaka empire - Saburo Arasaka's only surviving son.”

“So, he trying to take over while he’s in town?” V asks, trying to understand what exactly is going on.

“Only a handful of people in Night City know what the Arasakas' real plans are.”

“And you included in that?”

A smirk stretches across her face, green eyes devious; “Yorinobu is a puppet. He lost all his cards years ago when he failed to do daddy's bidding. Saburo's had Yori's balls in a vise for years. He might just turn the screw and crush them outright if he learns his son's up to no good again.”

“Someone like him is bound to have an army surrounding him, that hotel is probably a fortress by now.”

“Yorinobu keeps exactly no muscle around. Not one guard. Got rid of them a long time ago.”

“Why?”

“Surely you know what they say about Arasaka intel? Sneeze in Night City and a blossom drops from a cherry tree in Tokyo. Yorinobu was convinced his Arasaka security detail reported directly to his father.”

“If you got a spare ache up your sleeve, I’d love to see it.”

“ Now, this should make your tits perk up,” she says, putting the ashtray aside and leans forward.

“My tits are quite comfortable where they are, I assure you.”

“Cute, but more importantly, Yorinobu recently swiped the chip from an Arasaka laboratory. He's made a deal with NetWatch, aims to sell it to them. Have you spotted my ace yet or do I need to spell things out?”

“Okay, no muscle because he has daddy issues and no security on the device because he stole it from said daddy. Any idea where he’s hiding the thing?”

“Likely in a specialized container, one that mimics an organic neural environment. On the outside, it looks like an ordinary briefcase.”

“Which would be where?”

“You'll see for yourself soon enough,” she stamps out her cigarette and stands up, walking to the door, “Provided we're done gossiping about the Arasakas.”

“You know anything else about him?” V asks, wanting to see if she can mine any more useful information about the heir that could help.

“Quite a bit, actually. He studied finance and biotech in Tokyo. Hm, probably didn't have a choice in the matter, come to think of it. Saburo was grooming him to be his successor. But then Yorinobu vanished to chase his own dreams, cut himself off from the corp for years. Long story short, though the black sheep returned, the bitter taste remained. But that's only one side of him. There's another - an intelligent man who has always walked his own path and so has his own designs on the corp.”

There’s no doubt in V’s mind now that Evelyn knows Yorinobu personally, the way she talks and speaks is clearly colored by experience. Some prodigal son who ran away from his father and then came back with his tail between his legs when he couldn’t cut it alone. An odd lump in V’s throat at the thought; running away from shitty dads, being a black sheep…

“Sounds like any other corpo dick to me,” V signs, not liking the parallels her brain is starting to draw.

“Hm. Ever tried to imagine what life might be like for an emperor's son? You have everything, yet you are no one, nothing. At least as long as you remain in Saburo Arasaka's shadow. I…” she scratches almost sheepishly at her neck, her wannabe femme fatale attitude slipping for just a moment, “...sympathize. It's a vulnerability I understand well.”

V is still finding herself finding uncomfortable similarities between herself and fucking Yorinobu Arasaka. Its stupid, she doesn’t know the man and he has the wealth to destroy her for pretending she does. But, a power hungry leader for a father, leaving home, terrified of being under his thumb. Only difference, well many, but most pressing is she’s managed to make it on her own...so far… at least. Not that she hasn’t had her doubts or worries.

“So, what’s next?” V asks, practically shaking her head to dispel the weirdness swimming in her brain. Black sheep or not; Yorinobu Arasaka has a silver spoon in his mouth. She’s a nomad turned Night City edgerunner; their lives couldn’t be more far removed.

“Now comes the best part,” Evelyn opens the door and turns to leave, “Follow me. Got somethin' for you. Should help you plan. Braindance from Konpeki Plaza.”

V follows Evelyn out into the hallway, “ how’s a braindance going to help?”

“Think BDs are only good for fondling virtual tits, jackin' off to in those boxes?”

“Thought that was the main selling point, yeah,” V teases back as they turn a corner in the hallway, headed towards a door.

“No. They can be a very useful tool. Good for analyzing details human perception, even boosted, doesn't grasp. Exactly what you need,” Evelyn teases as they enters a dressing room, a few Mox at the tables painting their faces with makeup and styling their hair.

“What's on the tape?” Through another door and neon lights fade to harsher, darker lighting.

“Yorinobu's suite. The glorious interior,” the walk down a short metal flight of stairs, “You'll need to locate the Relic yourself. Hope I grabbed enough detail to make that possible.”

The stop at the end of the steps, Evelyn turning to look at V with a hand on her hips. Not that V really had any more doubt about it, but she’s been given more evidence that Evelyn and Yorinobu know each other.

“You recorded it?”

“Mhm. BD rec implant. Why, you object?”

“Not particularly, who you know and what you do with them is none of my business, lets see the braindance.”

“Judy'll help. She's a Mox, too,” down another short flight of stairs, deeper into the basement, “Besides, we go back… years.”

Evelyn stops them again outside a pair of double doors, Lizzie’s is starting to feel like a little maze at this point. But more importantly, Evelyn’s paused again, stumbled over her words and showed something under her facade. V felt something was off, a Mox but somehow not, and she’s starting to think Evelyn is purposely trying to put up a front. That she’s trying, a little too hard, to come across like femme fatale or corpo. Evelyn clears her throat.

“V, this is important. Judy's always been there for me. Always helped out. I trust her. But she's a Mox, not the latest member of your crew. Try not to forget. So you'll be a good girl, tread lightly and keep that tongue on a leash.

“Oh, but it's not my tongue you need to worry about.”

“Hmm, can feel you smirking under that mask, keep it up and I’ll tie those hands down, too,” Evelyn says with a wink as they pass through the double doors into another hallway, then through one more door.

Evelyn leads her through the basement doors, a dark little room with servers, netrunning chairs and screens. In an office chair slouching with one leg on a desk is a woman; late twenties or so with olive skin. One side of her hair is shaved, the other shaggy and down to nearly her shoulder, a deep green color with bright pink ends. The woman is heavily tattooed, bright red roses nestled above her collar bones, a spider web on her right shoulder, a cartoon ghost sitting in a shell, and a large number 13 on her bicep are among the standouts. But V could spend hours describing each artwork.

“Ahem.”

“Hey, there you are…” Judy greets Evelyn, a playful almost flirty tone to her voice.

“This is V. She's here for that BD roll. And V, this is Judy - best braindance editor I know.”

“Enough already, gonna make me barf.” There’s a slight accent to Judy’s voice, not unlike Jackie’s.

“Impressive set up,” V signs, at least, she assumes it’s impressive. Tech is already a bit of a blind spot for her, especially when it comes to brain dances.

“Mhm, Analyzers, sensory sig amps, acoustic and emotive wave monitors, facial expression translators.”

“Ahem, Judy,” Evelyn stops the inked editor before she can tell V more.

“All right, all right… Compiled your BD, Ev.”

“What do you think? Will it do?”

“Still pretty raw… but yeah, oughta do.”

“Mhm. V needs to get deep inside, that's most important.”

“So, let's calibrate, tune it to her,” Judy stands up from the table and moves to the desk closer to the door, sitting down below a neon pink light, “Believe me, I've dealt with worse. Should see the dig-Jig Street porn we gotta contend with sometimes.”

Evelyn has followed behind Judy, standing behind the editor’s chair, “So we drop V inside? Let her look, let her rummage around, right?”

“How 'bout it, V? Raw braindance - ever taken a dip before?” Judy leans forward on the desk, looking at V.

“No, not at all, but I’m a quick learner,” that feels like a lie as soon as she says it, “ and need to know what I’m dealing with. So.”

“Siddown, settle in, and we'll get you goin'.”

V turns around to the chairs, either netrunning or ripperdoc chairs, she’s not sure. But, she climbs into one, settling down into it as Judy comes back out around the desk. Judy is nearby, fiddling with a brain dance wreath.

“Be easier to fit without the mask.”

“Mask has optic tech, linked to my neuroport and biomon, should work just like it does with any set of cybereyes.”

“‘Fraid of ruining the mystery?” Evelyn asks, teasing again.

“Mask is for business, lot harder to track a merc if you got no clue what they look like. You that curious, feel free to try and track me down during my off time.”

“Fine, fine,”  Judy affixes the BD wreath around V’s head, lining it up properly on the merc before walking back to the desk,  “Gotta create your sensory profile first.”

“Go for it.”

“Now, sit still, look at me. Gonna run the analysis soft should feel a slight tingling…”

V’s breath catches as it prickles across her skin, a crackling and warm sensation crawling across every nerve. From the base of her skull, down her spine, across her arms to her fingers, running down her legs to her toes. A vague pulse, a current of something.

“OK now let's set the optics and other sensory sigs. Look smack into these two screens, pretend it's an eye exam.”

The two wreath panels flash and strobe white light, building in urgency and frequency.

“Gimme two more minutes. One more sec, need to get the pain receptor limiters in… OK. All set. Need to test your profile first. Tossing in a sam-”

“We can just use my recording, there’s no point in wasting time,” Evelyn interrupts Judy.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“I’m fine with just jumping to her BD,” V interjects her opinion, “better to get right to it.”

Judy sighs and rolls her eyes; “Fine, fine, what do I know.”

“Great, I’ll just need to patch Bug in.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, Who?” Judy jumps up from her desk, crossing her arms and looks at V like she just asked to summon Satan.

“Runner from my crew, security specialist. She'll tell me what to look for while we analyze. No problem, I assume?”

“Actually, it is a problem! You’re already asking me to cut fucking corners and now you want to bring someone else in?! Not what we agreed, Ev!”

“It’s not a big deal,” V signs, not sure what Judy’s sudden problem is.

“No big deal! You don't quite grasp the risks I took by lettin' you in here! What I'm risking pokin' around with this stuff!”

Judy continues to yell and V rolls her eyes, she’s a BD editor, not part of the actual crew, the client, or the fixer. If Arasaka goes after anyone it sure as shit won’t be Judy, so why is she throwing a fit.

“And you don’t seem to grasp the risk I’d be taking if me and my partner went stumbling into that hotel with no fucking clue as to what we or our runner are up against. I miss one hidden turret and I get pumped full of lead, either my runner links in or I’m gone.”

V makes a point to twist her head and look at Evelyn at the last part; Bug is the most highly trained member of their crew and Dex’s go to runner. Without her involvement and eyes on it, the job won’t be going anywhere.

“Bye then!” Judy yells out, “good riddance and don’t let the door hit you on the way out!”

“Judy, please…”

“Ev, she wants to bring a 'runner in. What part of that don't you understand?! How do I know she'll only perch in this footage, observe, not fuck with anything?!”

“Because Bug is literally involved with the heist, has a dog in this fight, and wants it to go well too,” V signs, hoping the AI voice is getting her annoyance across, Judy does level a glare at her over Evelyn’s shoulder.

“Me,” Evelyn steals Judy’s attention, “I'm your guarantee.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Help me, this one last time. I promise everything'll work out,  just like we planned.”

And it hits V, between the flirting and the soft drop in Evelyn’s voice here. The reason Judy is so worked up about this; her and Evelyn have something. Friends teetering the line into something else, girlfriends already, or maybe even more than that. V’s not sure. But there’s something distinctly not platonic to the way they interact. Maybe that’s the play on Evelyn’s. Scam Yorinobu Arasaka then run away with her porn editor girlfriend.

“Fine,” Judy shakes her head and sits back down, the anger gone, “call Bug and we’ll dive in.”

That issue taken care of V rings up T-Bug, the netrunner answering after a ring or two.

“What’s up, V?”

“Bug, listen. I got some useful footage from Konpeki Plaza. It's a braindance.”

“Konpeki? Ohhh, thought as much…” Judy looks up at Evelyn.

“Someone there with you?”

“Client and her...friend...is what I’ll settle on; that’s not what matters right now, its going to give us a layout of the room, a chance to find where the chip is, and some idea of security.”

“All right, see if I can walk you through it. Jackin’ into your tech now,” notifications alert across her mask’s interface, “Mh, you've gotta give me access. Opening port 1779… Secure protocol? Good, I'm goin' in. Should be getting my request… …now.”

“Got it. You ready?”

“Millisec. OK, connection confirmed, now some quick temp ICE and… we're clear. Ready to dance.”

“Let’s do this.”

And with that the wreath panels begin to flash and strobe in front of V’s eyes, quicker and quicker until the world goes out in white. And in the next snap of a moment, one reality becomes another. Her body is no longer her own, she’s placed in Evelyn’s mind standing outside an elevator. What feels like her body, moves to adjust a purse strap, gold capped nails.

“All right, V - eyes open. Gotta find out where Yorinobu is keepin’ the Relic. Everything is controlled by thought and intention; you can step into editor mode, access everything her cyberware picked up a signal of, can scan, rewind, fast forward. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

The doors open, exposing the hotel room, and a horror show of a man walking towards her. V can feel the spike in fear, whether from Evelyn in the moment or V’s own instinctual reaction; she isn’t sure. He’s around eight feet tall, complete metal and cyberware from his feet to his upper lip; more machine than human. Wire, hydraulics, steel; all branded with Arasaka. The flesh section of his head is sickly ashen protrusive veins, glowing red where eyes should be. As he draws closer there’s a whirr of machinery, hydraulics pistoning to give him movement. How is he alive? How is he functional?

“You look like a cut of fuckable meat. Are you?” He asks as he walks past, voice edged with something inhuman.

Evelyn reigns her fear back in, the past version of her walking deeper into the room, where a dark haired man sits at a table in front of a large screen where another blonde haired man speaks back to him.

“I said no,” the dark haired man speaks out, his voice colored by a Japanese accent and V knows it’s Yorinobu. Evelyn continues to walk closer, her heels clicking against the floor.

“They'll have my head for this…”

“Then you shall perish for a good cause.”

“But I-”

“Make yourself comfortable. I need a minute to finish,” Yorinobu tells Evelyn, sparing just a glance over his shoulder.

“Listen in on that conversation, V! Could be something important.”

She wants to watch through first, do an initial watch to look for things and then go more in depth. Two watches at least should mean she’s covered everything. Yorinobu switches the conversation to his holophone, pacing around the room. Evelyn meanwhile puts her purse down on the chair, then walks behind him, trying to keep him in range

“My father is a tired, visionless old greybeard who thinks nothing will change and he'll live forever in his tiny, frozen bubble! You will listen to this - Saburo is an addled despot utterly removed from reality, stuck in some fossilized vision of a world that no longer exists! Of a world that may never have existed! We have not seen eye to eye for the last twenty years. I am quite sure we won't now.”

Yorinobu continues to talk as Evelyn pours herself a glass full of champagne and takes a drink, the tech allowing V to taste the sweet bubbles as if they were on her own tongue. Glass in hand she takes a slow look around the room and walks back to the center of it, sitting at the table, the plush of the cushion letting her sink into it.

“Noted,” Yorinobu says into the phone as he starts to walk back to Evelyn, there’s something in his eyes, “enough.”

He hands up, putting the phone down on the table. Evelyn looks up at him and V through her eyes gets her first good look at the Arasaka heir. Dark hair with the sides shaved down close to the scalp, glasses perched on his nose. His cyberware is surprisingly minimal for a man of his wealth, two streaks of silver going up his neck to his jawline.

“Sorry, to make you wait,” he touches Evelyn’s shoulder and the woman rises, “business can be stupid.”

They’re close and V can feel his hands on her, Evelyn’s, hips. Evelyn’s hand on his shoulder.

“Mmh, it wasn't long,” Evelyn hums and it feels wholy unnatural to feel like she’s speaking with someone else's voice, “Not even long enough for me to grow bored.”

His hands start to creep and Evelyn goes to pull away, movements playful, when Yorinobu pulls her back in. Then he starts to dip his mouth.

“Fuck no!” V yells out as she pushes the thought to enter editor mode, separating her senses from Evelyn’s before she has to feel Yorinobu’s lips on Evelyn’s neck. She looks down and sees herself, though slightly digital, her bright blue nail polish and not gold jewelry. The scene around her has paused and a digital filter over them.

“Something wrong?” T-Bug asks with a slight laugh.

“Nearly had corpo droolon me,” V signs, happy to find the tech allows her translator to work in editor mode, “was going do a watch through, then a second go in editor mode, figured two look throughs would be best...then”

“Then you nearly had to lock lips with Yorinobu Arasaka.”

“Gag, rewinding back to scan the call fully.” With a thought she watches as Evelyn and Yorinobu move in reverse, getting back to win the heir was starting the call. Once she gets where she needs to be she scans his phone and restarts it from editor mode, thankful for the sensory disconnect. She hears the man on the other end of Yorinobu’s call speak.

“Please speak with your father. He's taken a particular interest in this project, he can certainly explain the risks invol--”

“My father is a tired, visionless old greybeard who thinks nothing will change and he'll live forever in his tiny, frozen bubble!”

“I should not even be listening to such things.”

“You will listen to this - Saburo is an addled despot utterly removed from reality, stuck in some fossilized vision of a world that no longer exists! Of a world that may never have existed! We have not seen eye to eye for the last twenty years. I am quite sure we won't now.”

“Read the documentation carefully. The Relic requires specific storage conditions. You MUST provide them.”

“Noted,” Yorinobu hangs up again and V pauses the BD.

“Heard that? Relic docs gotta be around here somewhere. Look for them,” Bug confirms.

“Once we find where the chip is stored we’ll do a clean sweep of the security, okay Bug.”

“Smart thinking.”

V watches half-heartedly as Yorinobu and Evelyn interact; her range of vision and senses limited to Evelyn. She fast forwards through the two canoodling, only mildly catching Evelyn mentioning something about ‘candy’ though V assumes it’s of the nose variety. Evelyn separates away from Yorinobu for a moment and walks to a control panel, offering to lend music to the scene.

But V’s interest is piqued when she catches Evelyn rifling through Yorinobu’s messages, a few spam and scam emails. Then she pulls up an email from Clouds, a dollhouse in the city. Evelyn deletes it, V rewinds back and pauses. The email thanks Yorinobu for his patronage; hmm, heir has a taste for doll prostitutes. Something, Evelyn doesn’t want that email to be there… Its all beginning to make more sense and V’s not sure she likes it.

The merc fast forwards further through the BD, moving through to Evelyn playing awful music and going to meet Yorinobu in his bed. Where he sits with a tablet, the second the screen is clear. She pauses and scans it, bingo.

“Manual details a special temp controlled container. Relic needs to be kept real cool,” T-Bug explains through the technobabble.

“Chip’s got to be in a freezer.”

“Yep. Could damage it otherwise. OK, switch on thermal layer detection in the editor. Should be easier to spot where Yorinobu's keeping the chip.”

V switches with a thought, the world turning into temperature signatures as she searches for unnatural cold places and spots. An air conditioner pumps out cold air, but that would be a stupid place to put billion dollar tech. One malfunction and you lost it all.  She rewinds back to get more of a view, a ice bucket for champagne, a fridge?

“That’s just a regular fancy fridge, not cold enough,” Bug tells her when she spends t0o long contemplating it.

V rewinds further and an amass of blue ice cold air from behind a pillar catches her eye, It seems to come up through the floor, unlike the AC, ice bucket, or fridge she has no clear idea where this one is coming from. A secret container in the floor? Seems like a much craftier place to hide expensive stolen tech, V scans it.

“Right, grabbed the heat sig. Matches the spec in the docs,” T-Bug tells her.

“Chip has to be here, we got it.”

“Mmhmm, time to scan security.”

V switches back to the regular mode, looking for what she needs to scan. The camera system first.

“Shit, cameras packed with newtech motion sensors, heat sig activators. IFF.”

“Can you kill it?”

“With access to their subnet, but we need the Flathead bot for that.”

They continue on, with Bug commenting on each security measure they scan. Alarm with fresh firmware, Automated turrets connected to the hotels server. Yorinobu’s pistol, loaded with the safety on. V rewinds and fast forward, searching anything else that might be an issue but comes up empty handed.

“Seems like we got everything. Looks like all their security systems are linked to the hotel subnet. We need the Flathead. No other way to shut down these systems,” T-Bug sumises.

“No way around it ourselves?”

“Nope. Least I'm fresh out of ideas. Think we got everything we need.”

“Okay, but hang on the line with me after we get out of the BD, need you to look over something for me, if you don’t mind.”

“No problem.”

V exists out of the brain dance, a flash of white and the world returns. Judy and Evelyn looking at her from across a desk, T-Bug still in the call panel of her mask. Her eyes hurt, her throat feels dry, and she can feel a migraine pushing at her temples. She fucking hates brain dances.

“Get everything you need?” Judy asks, a dark raised eyebrow.

“From the BD, yeah, got to clear something with Bug while I got her on the horn,” V gets the chip she fucked with out of her pocket and slides it into the proxy reader of her mask, “got a chip I fucked around with; decrypted and tried to rewrite the virus on it, so it will spike the people who gave it to me. But I want to make sure, I didn’t fuck up.”

“Need me to grade your work, V?”

“Kind of…”

“Oh, shit, V. You fucking over Militech?” T-Bug exclaims, a little pride in her voice as she reads over the code, thankfully her voice is only audible to V through her hearing aids.

“Mmhmm.”

“And you don’t want to sign and have your translator read it, because you don’t want to risk the client knowing you’re fucking over Militech while prepping to fuck over Arasaka.”

“Mmhmm, will it work?”

“It will fry the servers of any tech it’s plugged in proper and fry the servers it’s linked to, a Militech van from the looks of it. Won’t be a dent in their bottom line, but will surely piss off some reps. That what you meant for it to do?”

“That was the plan.”

“Preem work then, but I do want to make some...edits,” T-Bug edits the chips code in front of V’s eyes, “there we go.”

“Something wrong with it?” Nerves creep up V’s throat, if she fucked up, she’d rather learn her lesson now.

“Nah, I added a bit of a personal touch for you, nothing wrong with a little style added to your hacking.”

“Appreciate the help.”

“You know I won’t always be here to check your work.”

“I know, I know, but it doesn't mean I won’t take advantage while I can. Thanks again, talk soon.”

“Later, V.” With that V hangs up the call and slots the spiked credchip back into its respective pocket. Judgement, suspicion, and resentment are radiating off of Judy.

“I'll wipe the cache and your data. You were never here.”

Judy stands up from the desk and V tries to decipher a few of the tattoos she sees, noticing more sea themed ones, like a dolphin and sharks. V flinches behind her mask as Judy removes the BD wreath, glad to be free of the contraption, but she could have taken it off herself.

“Thanks…” V signs, despite this, just trying to be polite despite their spat.

“Keep it,” Judy hands her the wreath, V getting a good look at the octopus tattooed on the woman’s hand,  “I'll put it on Ev's tab. Portable device for handling BDs. I already uploaded your calibration settings. Not as sophisticated as what we got here, but should do the trick.”

“And it keeps you outta harm's way. Clever.”

“Speaking of harms way, know what I see looking at you,” Judy pins her hands to her hips and gives V that look again, “walking, talking corpses.”

“We needed this recording, just… relax, will you?”

“Relax! If Arasaka finds out you have it, you're dead. I'm dead! If you fuck this up and Arasaka comes knocking on my door!”

“Judy, relax, that’s… not gonna happen,” Evelyn is the one trying to soothe the editors temper again.

“Evelyn, please… no shortcuts. You go that route, city'll always win. So be careful.”

“'Course I will be. Besides, we'll talk in a bit,” Evelyn looks to V,  “lets walk.”

V stashes the new BD wreath into her bag and climbs from the chair, following Evelyn out of Judy’s basement space. It’s not like V is heartless or doesn’t know anxiety; but of everyone involved, Judy has the least skin in the game. V can’t spend her time coddling someone who doesn’t have a whole hell of a lot to worry about compared to her, Jackie, or Bug.

“Well? What do you think?” Evelyn asks and V can see that hint of nerves coming back.

“You’re not worried about this coming back on you, if they start looking through everyone he’s been dealing with?”

“They'll have a long list, then. Packed full of big names. Much bigger than mine. You tell me who they check first. Corpo hotshots and cutthroats? Or a little bedroom plaything like me?”

“Well, then... “ V tries to find her words, this all seems, too good, “intel on the heir, on the place, know roughly where the chip is, and how we should get to it… Seems like a perfect plan and job.”

“Mm. Thanks. Now the punch line, please.”

“Seems too good to be true, there’s got to be a catch…”

“Cold feet? Are you looking to get out of it?”

“I want to know you’re in control here; that there’s no secrets, no catches, no surprises that turns this heist from a cakewalk into a bloodbath.”

“V. I have zero reasons to haze you. We’re in this together. Really. Trust me that I got this.”

“Okay, if you say so, what next?”

“V….” there’s nothing good in the way Evelyn pauses, words stuck to her tongue for a moment, “Do this job for me. I mean me alone. No splitting the payout with anyone else. No middlemen. No Dex.”

Of course, of fucking course, there had to be something. Evelyn’s trying to play cutthroat corpo, fucking over a fixer because she has dollar signs in her eyes. But, she’s too damn naïve to the game to know that no merc with the lead in their gun would pull that shit. Greedy mercs who screw over their fixers end up broke on the street at best and swimming  with cement shoes at worst. And a high profile one like Dex has the means to destroy her.

“Fucking knew there was a catch, you want to fuck over our fixer.”

“Dex is a middleman. And a useless one at this point.”

“You don't fuck with fixers. That's the one rule every merc in this city knows - and actually follows!”

“But if we're smart…”

“There is no smart to this, a mistake like that will cost me my reputation and without that, a merc is fucking nothing in this city. Are you serious about this?”

“Better ask yourself that question. Do you want to spend the rest of your days blasting scavs? Or become a legend overnight? Your choice.”

“He would put me in the ground, if I pulled some gonk shit like that.”

“I could give you fifty percent, V, . Eddies enough to do whatever the hell you like, without needing Dex for anything. With cred like that, you wouldn’t want for anything, you could retire.”

“It’s not about the money.”

“I thought you were a merc. I thought it was always about the money.”

“No, its not actually. He trusts me, he’s taking a leap with me. And even if he weren’t, I’m not the only person I got to worry about. Bug vouched for me too and Jackie is my partner. I fuck over my fixer, it hurts them too. I’m not going to send them down the river for a bigger cut of the pie.”

“Fine. I never asked. But V?”

“Yeah.”

“I just hope you're as good as you are naive.”

“Pff, you think I’m the naive one, here. Cute.

“If you need me, call. I'll send you my number. Now go. I need a few words with Judy.”

“Later, then.”

And with that V heads back up the stairs, tension draws tight across her shoulders. This whole damn thing with Evelyn throwing her off. The BD and everything seems clear cut, if they get the Flathead, the job might even be easy. But, wanting to fuck over their fixer. Evelyn is not the corpo or femme fatale or whatever she seems to think she is. A doll, V’s sure of that.  Evelyn must have deleted the email from Clouds because its’s connected to her and the Mox offer protection to sex workers; must be where she and Yorinobu met. Clouds even has connections to Arasaka through the Tyger Claws. And she managed to become a powerful rich man’s plaything, so now she thinks she’s smart enough to fuck over not only him but Dex too.

She’s a messy client with good intel. V doesn’t want Evelyn to get hurt. The older woman is in over her head and doesn’t know how the merc world works. She doesn’t deserve to get hurt for that, the last thing V wants is for Dex to lose his cool and hurt the woman. But, V also owes it to him to let him know Evelyn put that deal on the table. If she doesn’t, what’s to say Evelyn won’t pull this on another fixer? Or Dex gets another job aligned with her and the next merc she offers this to isn’t so loyal? She has to tell him.

V fumbles with her holo as she walks back through the club, doing some quick research on Konpeki Plaza. Finding their policy on guns. Given the stealth nature of this mission, she can assume the only way they’re getting in is to find a way to get in like regular patrons. Which means they’d be scanned for guns as soon as they get through the door. If something goes south, she doesn’t want her and Jackie left unarmed with a hoard of Arasaka soldiers on their ass.

But they can’t confiscate cyberware.

Might be time to cash in her savings for something. Her holo buzzes in her hand as Dex calls; her stomach drops. Unsure for a moment what to say to him, if she should go ahead and tell him what Evelyn tried to pull. Would he lose his temper? Drop the entire damn heist? Would he hurt her for it? It weighs on her shoulders as she pushes through a blue beaded curtain, considering her options with a finger hovering over the phone.

[grailfinders]

Fate and Phantasms #103: Thomas Edison

Today on Fate and Phantasms we’re making the king of inventions, the Presi-King of the US of A, and the man who turned every president of the United States into his underwear, Thomas Edison! This inventor’s one cool cat, with a World Faith Domination that can alter the hearts and minds of a nation while also shutting down any other illusions that might be affecting them. You also make robots sometimes. You also, of course, get plenty of that good ol’ American DC current!

Check out the Presi-king’s build breakdown below the cut, or his character sheet over here!

Next up: What’s that thing you shout when you jump off stuff again?

Race and Background

The good Presi-king’s a cat, but he’s a lot chunkier than most of the ones we’ve built so far. Fortunately, WotC have us covered with the Leonin. We’re also using Tasha’s variant race rules to mix up the ability score bonuses. Being a Leonin gives Eddy boy +2 Constitution and +1 Intelligence. He also gets Darkvision, Claws for additional unarmed damage, Hunter’s Instincts, giving him proficiency in Athletics, and a Daunting Roar, using a bonus action to force a wisdom save (DC 8 plus your constitution modifier plus your proficiency bonus) against nearby creatures, frightening them if they fail, once per short rest.

He’s also a Guild Artisan, for Insight and Persuasion proficiency. The sciences aren’t big in the Forgotten Realms, but he’s good enough at building things to get by.

Ability Scores

Put your highest ability into Intelligence. The king of inventors is smart, pretty simple. After that is Charisma, you can put on a good show when you have to. Follow this up with Dexterity, then Constitution. You’re a nerd, but you’ve got a fancy outfit on that helps a bit. This does mean your Strength is a little low, but we’ll get ways to fix that later. We’re dumping Wisdom though. History has proven that direct current just isn’t as good as alternating current in most instances. Also you’re happy to waste tons of resources on your schemes as long as they don’t come from America, which is pretty unwise.

Class Levels

1. Artificer 1: No points for guessing this one. First level artificers have proficiency with Constitution and Intelligence saves, as well as Arcana (which is the closest thing to science in D&D) and Investigation. You also get Magical Tinkering, which adds minor effects to small items, and Intelligence based Spells. 

Speaking of spells, you get first level spells now, plus some cantrips. You can technically use all of them, but you have to prepare them beforehand. With a limited amount of prep, you have to pick and choose what you focus on. For cantrips, Lightning Lure adds a little spark to your life, and Dancing Lights puts on a show when necessary. You can also prepare spells like Grease, Alarm, and Snare as your first inventions. You can also learn Identify to investigate other items you come across, and turn them into your own with some improvements.

2. Artificer 2: Speaking of improvements, second level artificers can actually do that with Infuse Item. After working on an item over your long rest, you can add an infusion to it that lasts until you die or you infuse more than your limit. At level two, you can make an Armor of Magical Strength, which will give you a limited use muscle body. When you make a strength check or save you can use one of six charges to add your intelligence modifier to the roll. You can also spend a charge to avoid falling prone. An Enhanced Weapon might also be a good fit for your fighters, adding 1 to all attack and damage rolls. Sending Stones are more Bell’s thing, but he’s not here, so he won’t mind. Finally, you can also make a Homunculus Servant for the start of your mighty robot army.

3. Artificer 3: We’ll continue to build your army by becoming a Battle Smith, gaining you extra spells like Heroism and Shield to inspire and protect your meatshields. You’re also Battle Ready, allowing you to use martial weapons (that’ll come in handy later) and use your intelligence instead of strength when attacking with magic weapons.

You can also build a Steel Defender, though sadly only one. It’s a medium construct that can make melee attacks, heal itself and other constructs, though only if you spend your bonus action each turn commanding it to do so. It’s built-in hardware only has melee attacks, but building a gun shouldn’t be too complicated for you.

You can also build The Right Tool for the Job over a short rest, magically creating a set of artisan’s tools.

4. Artificer 4: Now that we have martial weapons proficiency, use this Ability Score Increase to get the Fighting Initiate feat for a new fighting style. The Unarmed Fighting style will add even more oomph to your punches than before. I’d argue that magicking up some gloves with tinkering would count them as magic weapons, but that’s something to argue with your DM over. You’ll be good either way by the end of the build, but that would get your there much faster. 

5. Wizard 1: Speaking of complicated, here’s a billion extra spells. Wizards get a whole new list that’s kept in their spellbook and use Intelligence to cast. You also gain an Arcane Recovery, letting you recover spell slots on a short rest with a total level equal to half your wizard level rounded up.

For cantrips, Light and Prestidigitation will help you put on a show, and Mending can repair your Steel Defender for free. You can also make a horror movie to Cause Fear, use Color Spray to blind people with science, Magic Missile for caster balls, Unseen Servant for another robot buddy, Silent Image for classic films, and Protection from Evil and Good for the anti-mysticism effects.

(We know Unseen Servant doesn’t have an actual visible body, but it’s a straight downgrade from RAW, so it’s an easy sell for your DM.)

6. Wizard 2: You make movies, and the closest thing we can get in D&D would be Illusions. As an Illusion Savant, it costs you half as much gold to copy illusion spells. You also get an Improved Minor Illusion that can create sound and images at the same time.

You also get Tenser’s Floating Disk for a carrier robot, and Find Familiar for yet another non-combat drone. For those of you playing along at home, you can now have a familiar, a defender, a homunculus, and either a servant or floating disk with concentration. You’re not exactly a military powerhouse yet, but you’re getting there.

7. Artificer 5: Fifth level artificers get an Extra Attack each attack action, as well as second level spells. Your specialties are Branding Smite and Warding Bond, but you can also make Magic Mouths to leave behind recordings, and use See Invisibility to look past others’ illusions.

8. Artificer 6: Sixth level artificers have Tool Expertise, doubling your tool proficiencies. You can also make another infusion at once, and learn two more to fill that slot. A Spell-Refueling Ring is great for casters pulling an all-nighter, and Gloves of Thievery aren’t really in character, but they’re an excuse to use Battle Ready with your unarmed attacks.

9. Artificer 7: Every once in a while you have a Flash of Genius. Normally this would lead to some country that isn’t America getting ransacked for natural resources, but in D&D it means you can react to add your intelligence modifier to any saving throw or check done within 30 feet of you. This can be used a number of times per long rest equal to your intelligence modifier.

10. Wizard 3: Third level wizards get second level spells. You specifically get Dragon’s Breath and Enhance Ability to improve your robots’ combat capabilities. (I mean, breathing fire would improve anything’s combat capabilities, but using it on your robots is in character.)

11. Wizard 4: Use this ASI to bump up your Intelligence for better... well, everything. You also get the Friends cantrip and Suggestion spell to help bury that busybody Tesla with your social connections, and Flock of Familiars for, you guessed it, more robots.

12. Wizard 5: Fifth level wizards get third level spells, like Dispel Magic and Remove Curse for more anti-mysticism tech.

13. Wizard 6: Sixth level illusionists can make Malleable Illusions, allowing you to change what an illusion spell you’ve cast is depicting as an action. You can also cast Major Image now, and Lightning Bolt will bolster your lagging electrical toolkit.

14. Artificer 8: Eighth level artificers get another ASI and not much else, but it does mean your Intelligence is now maxed out for the strongest spells and most flashes of genius possible.

15. Artificer 9: Your Arcane Jolt can deal extra damage or heal people when you hit a creature with your own magical weapons or your steel defender. When you’re as busy as you are, fitting as much into a single action as possible is paramount.

You also get third level spells again, specializing in an Aura of Vitality and the ability to Conjure Barrage. You can also create a Tiny Servant for yet another construct, or use Protection from Energy and Elemental Weapon to add even more electricity into your party’s life.

16. Artificer 10: Tenth level artificers are Magic Item Adepts, letting you attune for four magic items at once, and crafting common and uncommon magic items are much faster and cheaper. 

You can also cast Guidance now, because why not, and learn two more invocations. Helm of Awareness gives you more situational awareness, and Gauntlets of Ogre Strength gives you punches that don’t require technicalities to deal damage.

17. Artificer 11: Eleventh level artificers can make Spell Storing Items, storing magical effects in weapons and focii. The spell has to be on the artificer list, 2nd level or lower, and take one action to cast.

18. Artificer 12: Use this ASI to bump up your Dexterity for a better AC. Your armor’s pretty good, but you should help it where you can.

19. Artificer 13: After five levels, you finally bump up to fourth level spells, with the specialty spells Aura of Purity and Fire Shield. You can also Fabricate items out of nothing, and your robot army finally gets more power with Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound and Summon Construct. (Like Unseen Servant, the Faithful Hound shouldn’t be visible, but again, an easy sell to your DM.)

20. Artificer 14: Your capstone level makes you a Magic Item Savant, giving you yet another attunement slot, and the ability to ignore class and race requirements when using magic items.

You also get Mage Hand for another kind of drone, and two new infusions. Amulet of Health will make you a bit tougher, and Gem of Seeing will help you see through enemy illusions for one final bit of anti-mystic technology.

Pros:

With proper flavoring, your robot army can be super useful, despite the small number of them that can directly attack creatures. Use familiars to revive fallen teammates or even turn macguffins into Tiny Servants at a distance, TS up your fighter’s crossbow so it’ll reload itself, or use unseen servants as stealth bombers. The world is your toolbox.

You’re also good at destroying other magic, with magic items to help see through illusions and invisibility and spells like Dispel Magic and Remove Curse to tear up mysticism affecting your party and your path forward.

Your spells and artifacts are powerful, but there’s something to be said for just being able to punch people. Maybe your DM wants to take you down a peg by tearing up all your robots, only to get the shock of their life when you’re still able to hold your own.

Cons:

While you can survive without your infusions, you’re still tied to your gear in the long run, with infusions providing you the toughness necessary to get into melee range to begin with, and your spellbook holding a sizeable chunk of what you can cast at any given time.

You also have low wisdom, so without your gear you might have a hard time seeing through illusions.

Despite your impressive physique and robot army, most of your gear is suited for indirect combat at best. You can punch and shoot lightning if you have to, but getting other people to be the muscle is still going to be your plan A.

[ferrybaker0-blog]

Glitter, glam, grit

Driving down the Sunset Strip in the 1970s could be hazardous to your health. The dozens of balconies lining the Continental Hyatt House were often populated with visiting rock stars, including The Who, Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. Like overstimulated toddlers, these men ran riot over the hotel.

Zeppelin band members rode a motorcycle up and down the halls, Jim Morrison hung off a 10th-floor balcony like a monkey, and orgies were an almost nightly occurrence. Oblivious to the people below, Keith Richards and Keith Moon supposedly threw TVs off the balcony, while John Bonham pelted cars with water balloons and champagne bottles.

Hotel staff had a remarkably lenient attitude toward these rock ‘n’ roll antics.

“One night we got crazy and threw a chair out the window,” Neal Doughty, REO Speedwagon pianist, told Michael Walker, author of Laurel Canyon. “Ten seconds later we got a call from the desk. All they said was, ‘Did you at least look first?’”

The Sunset Strip of the 1970s was miles away from the whimsical peace and love of the mid-1960s. The new scene was grittier, tougher, and more jaded, with a hard-edged glamour befitting the times.

In the late ’60s and early ’70s, a new spate of clubs and musical venues opened that would define the Strip for the next two decades.

These included the rock ‘n’ roll venue Gazzarri’s, where Van Halen got its start, and the Comedy Store, which opened in 1972 at Ciro’s old home. Soon, the kooky and shrewd Mitzi Shore would be playing den mother to a group of comic geniuses, including Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, and, later, Sam Kinison, and Andrew Dice Clay. In 1973, the upscale Roxy Theatre opened, backed by music industry heavyweights David Geffen, Elliot Roberts, and Lou Adler.

The venerable Whisky continued to rock, being the gold standard for new acts starting out on the Strip. Then there was the brief reign of Rodney Bingenheimer’s English Disco (first at 8171 Sunset and later at 7561 Sunset), which opened in 1972.

“The three pioneers of the Sunset Strip during the ’70s and ’80s were Bill Gazzarri, Mario Maglieri, and of course Rodney Bingenheimer, who was a very popular disc jockey on KROQ,” Sunset Strip historian and resident Alison Martino says. “He introduced bands to Los Angeles that would never have gotten their start without him.”

Through his popular radio show and the English Disco, the soft-spoken, starry-eyed Bingenheimer, known as the “Mayor of the Sunset Strip,” would bring glam and glitter rock to Los Angeles.

He would introduce the Strip to the wonders of David Bowie—and later Iggy Pop, Blondie, and New Wave acts. Inside the Disco, legendary groupies like Lori Maddox, Pamela Des Barres, and Sable Starr danced in sequin pants and halter tops, attempting to get the attention of rockers like Rod Stewart or Robert Plant. In November 1973, writer Richard Cromelin reported in the Los Angeles Times:

Once inside, everybody’s a star. The social rules are simple but rigid: All you want to hear is how fabulous you look, so you tell them how fabulous they look. You talk about how bored you are, coming here night after night, but that there’s no place else to go. If you’re not jaded, there’s something wrong. It’s good to come in very messed up on some kind of pills every once in a while, and weekend nights usually see at least one elaborate, tearful fight or breakdown.

The Disco, which included regulars like The Runaways’ Joan Jett, Lita Ford, and Cherie Currie, even enticed the King himself to find out what all the fuss was about. “Elvis Presley came in, and they I.D. him,” Martino recalls. “And he actually left his license at the front while he went in and hung out for a while… he left his license there—I think Rodney still has it.”

The scene was just as intense over at The Rainbow, a mock Tudor-style Italian restaurant with a dance floor upstairs. Opened in 1972 by Whisky impresarios Mario Maglieri and Elmer Valentine, it was financed by a group including Lou Adler and press agent Bob Gibson. The Rainbow served as what Walker calls a “round table of LA’s rock elite.” It was soon a popular hangout for the likes of John Belushi, Elton John, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon.

But not everyone was impressed with the rarified air of the Rainbow. “It is a hellish place, desperate and crowded and it means you aren’t satisfied with your friends if you have to drink with them at the Rainbow,” writer and socialite Eve Babitz wrote in Eve’s Hollywood. “It’s no fun.”

After the clubs had closed for the night, the stars and their paramours decamped to hotels like Chateau Marmont and the Continental Hyatt House, which earned its nickname as the “Riot House” with its balcony antics alone.

According to Walker, teenage waifs like Morgana Welch, part of a pack of groupies known as the “LA Queens,” spent their days in the coffee shop of the Hyatt House, waiting for their rock gods to check-in and check them out. Today, the Hyatt House is the Andaz West Hollywood. It’s still a hotel, but it’s missing its most defining feature. “When the Andaz took it over, they took out the balconies,” Martino says. “That was probably smart!”

During the ’70s, the Strip musical scene evolved from rock and glam to punk. With the dawn of the 1980s, a new musical genre was germinating on the Strip—glam metal—which would soon take over the clubs on Sunset and charts across America.

In 1981, three young punks named Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, and Nikki Sixx (who had spent part of his itinerant childhood living in the Strip��s Sunset Tower) moved into a house at 1124 North Clark Street, directly above the Strip. As members of the band Motley Crue, they were making a name for themselves on the Strip, while living in a filthy house, swarming with roaches and vermin, which became party central for the likes of David Lee Roth. Neil recalled the scene in the band’s autobiography The Dirt:

We played the Whisky, half the crowd would come back to our house and drink and do blow, smack, Percodan, quaaludes, and whatever else we could get for free… There would be members of punk-scene remnants like 45 Grave and the Circle Jerks coming to our almost nightly parties while guys in metal newborns like Ratt and W.A.S.P. spilled out into the courtyard and the street. Girls would arrive in shifts. One would be climbing out the window while another was coming in the door.

It was while playing at the Whisky one night that Motley Crue was discovered after a record scout noticed hundreds of kids waiting in line, clad in tight leather with high teased hair. The Crue was soon one of the biggest bands in America and the new kings of the Sunset Strip. “We’d get drunk, do crazy amounts of cocaine and walk the circuit in stiletto heels, stumbling all over the place,” Neil wrote. “The Sunset Strip was a cesspool of depravity.”

With the success of other hair bands like W.A.S.P., The L.A. Guns, and, later, Faster Pussycat and Poison, the Strip was soon teeming with aspiring glam rock stars and their adoring fans. Strip record stores like Licorice Pizza and Tower Records became important social gathering places for stars and teenage star-gazers alike.

“Tower Records… was where everybody went to get their records,” Martino says. “Everybody from Elton John to David Bowie to Van Halen, they were all in Tower Records. I saw all of them there, buying their own records. I remember seeing Valerie Bertinelli with her mother at Tower Records the week that ‘Jump!’ came out. They used to have on the wall all the number one singles. I remember she went up to the cover of the ‘Jump!’ 45 and turned it around to see Eddie’s face and left it that way.”

According to Martino, both Axl Rose and Slash did their time working at Tower Records before Guns N’ Roses took off, and they weren’t the only ones. “Every musician and struggling band worked at Tower Records,” she recalls. “It looked like a metal band when you walked in. The employees all looked like members of Motley Crue! They all had their own bands, and you would walk in and buy records, and they would hand you their band’s flyer and put it in your bag.”

The advertising continued into the Tower parking lot, another popular hangout. “You’d walk out from buying your records, and flyers were all over your cars—all metal bands,” Martino says. “They’re valuable now those fliers, but back then you either threw them away, or you just drove off with them on your car, and they flew off.”

Slash, Steven Adler, and Izzy Stradlin backstage before a sold out show at the Roxy in 1986.

Getty Images

The Strip followed the trends of the decade. “The ’70s were gritty,” Martino says. “Then the ’80s got very decadent.” Tattoo parlors were everywhere; Motley Crue loved their tattoo artist from Sunset Strip Tattoo so much, they brought him on tour.

On the weekends, the Strip was crowded with teenagers cruising up and down its 1.7 miles. “Headbangers would all go up and walk from Gazzarri’s. They’d walk up and down and up and down. It was like a party on the street. The ’60s was the hippie movement,” Martino says, laughing. “This was the hair band movement!”

Poison frontman Bret Michaels told Rolling Stone about the first time he and his Pennsylvania bandmates caught sight of the fabled stretch of Sunset. “When we finally pulled onto the Strip it was, ‘Holy shit!’” he recalled. “We’re driving past the Rainbow, Gazzarri’s, the Roxy, the Whisky, and there’s gotta be, like, 100,000 people walking around. And they all look like they’re in a band. For a bunch of small-town guys, that’s a lot to take in.”

Over at the venerable Rainbow, the scene had gone from the rock ‘n’ roll elite to a scene of glam metal stars and strivers. Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee remembered:

When the clubs began to close, we’d go to the Rainbow. The place was set up like a circle, with the coolest rockers and richest deviants sitting at the center tables. Guys had to be twenty-one to come into the club, but girls could be eighteen. The guys would sit at their regular spots and the girls would walk around the ring until they were called over to someone’s empty chair... Afterward, everyone would spill out into the parking lot: Randy Rhoads, Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist, would be hanging upside down from a tree screaming while junkies tried to score dope and everyone else tried to scam on girls.

No open space on the Strip was safe from the mayhem. “I saw so many people f*** on the lawns behind Gazzarri’s that I actually got bored of watching and started to throw empty beer cans at them,” Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy wrote in his autobiography Sex, Drugs, Ratt & Roll: My Life in Rock.

“We’d get drunk, do crazy amounts of cocaine and walk the circuit in stiletto heels, stumbling all over the place,” Motley Crue’s lead singer wrote in the band’s biography. “The Sunset Strip was a cesspool of depravity.”

There was also violence. Hot-headed and fueled by cocaine and alcohol, rock stars like the Motley Crue guys frequently got in brutal fights in both Strip clubs and parking lots. Amid all this madness, West Hollywood, and therefore the Sunset Strip, finally became a town.

“In 1984, a coalition of gay men, Russian Jews and the elderly, spurred by the imminent expiration of L.A. County’s rent control protections, successfully held a vote to officially incorporate the area as the City of West Hollywood, electing a city council with an openly gay majority and immediately passing a series of rent control measures to protect its longtime citizens,” according to the city of West Hollywood.

The era of glam metal would be the last gasp of lawlessness on the Sunset Strip. While the tragic 1982 drug overdose of John Belushi at Chateau Marmont had done little to pause the debauchery, the advent of the grunge movement and the senseless overdose of River Phoenix in front of The Viper Room in 1993 seemed to signal the end of an era.

Over the past 30 years, the Strip has become increasingly staid and upscale as rents have gone up and big business has taken over.

“I’m afraid it’s just becoming hotel row,” Martino says. “I’m very nervous about the future of Sunset Strip. I grew up off Sunset Strip. I still live off Sunset Strip. There are many ghosts on this boulevard. And I will not go anywhere. I’ll still be here. But I don’t go as often as I used to. There’s really not a destination. On a Friday night in the 1980s it was: ‘What do you want to do?’ ‘Let’s go to the Strip!’ I don’t think anybody does that today.”

Source: https://la.curbed.com/2019/3/21/18270439/sunset-strip-motley-crue-the-roxy

[archived-deadpoolxandxfriends]

OLYMPIAN AESTHETICS

repost, do not reblog!

Tagged by: @imxthexhandler

Tagging: @brightengale, @witchgoddesshero, @thecharmedmechanic, @nxtsoordinary (wanda?), @leaguexofxherxown (harley?), @musesfrommanyworlds (herc?), and anyone else who fancies a go

Putting this under a read more because of length!

FIRST: Eddie Brock

APHRODITE / LOVE.

laughter-loving, sweet smiles, dressed in silk and satin, flower in their hair, sees the world as a runway, unapologetically sexual, the sea washing their ankles, in love with love, stirrer of passion, cunning concealed by painted lips, secret daggers, doves, revolution in their kiss, delighting in the waves, flirtatious winks, strolling along the beach, staring wistfully from a balcony, this is how to be a heartbreaker, wants to be adored, gets turned on by danger

APOLLO / SUN.  

glitz and glamour, art galleries, turning the volume up, being made of gold, neatly-organized music sheets, notebooks filled with poetry, bathing in the sunlight, the powerful urge to create, collecting vinyl records, beautiful cover of wonderwall, playing multiple instruments, tasting like sunshine, healing touch, speaking in prophecies, smile mingled with wrath, shunning lies, sporting shades, hanging out at music festivals with their friends, sleeps naked, arrow to the heart, paint brushes, probably has a Tinder account

ARES / WAR.  

armed for battle, wants to raise a dog with their significant other, soft spot for children, gives piggyback rides, scarred body, blood on their hands and face, willing to fight the world for the ones they love, fights against injustice, warm hugs, well-worn combat boots, boxing gloves, bandages wrapped around bruised knuckles, fist raised in protest, ignites revolutions, fear is a prison, more sensitive than what their tough shell would have you think, exhausted, damaged goods, force to be reckoned with, red roses, curses under their breath

ARTEMIS / WILDERNESS.  

keen sense of a hunter, freckles like constellations on their skin, piercing eyes, dishevelled braid, moonlight peeking through the shadows, the calm of the forest at night, lying on the grass and staring at the stars, mother doe and her fawn, protecting their kin, the moon shimmering on a still lake, quiver full of arrows resting against the bark of a tree, running with wolves, bonding while circled around a campfire, not being much of a people person, arrow hitting a target, popping egos, patience on 3%, touches heaven and returns howling

ATHENA / WISDOM.  

discerning gaze, unreadable face, quiet museums, owl perched on their finger, armour that intimidates, eye for architecture, plays the sims for the sole purpose of building houses, studied the blade while everyone else was busy getting laid, big fan of logic, loves brain teasers, ancient buildings, sweaters in neutrals and cool colours, hair done up, can kill you with their brain, heads to the library often to research, sharpened pencils, abs that can cut steel, stoic statues, pottery classes

DEMETER / HARVEST.

soil-covered hands, smile that can bloom flowers, skin loved by the sun, being the mom-friend, can lift you and your friends, flowers kept in the pockets of overalls, takes pride in their beautiful garden, speaks to their plants, leaves rustling in the wind, stalks of wheat, picking fruit, greenhouses, heart as strong as a mountain, values simplicity, daisies dotted across a collarbone, curls crowned with flowers, folded pile of sweaters in warm hues, pulling out fresh-baked bread out of the oven and the smell wafting through the air

DIONYSUS / MADNESS.  

drunk shitposter, on their sixth glass of wine before you’ve even finished your second, seductive smirks, untamed curls, rich fabrics on dark skin, sleek-furred panthers, theater masks, stage productions, receiving a standing ovation, rose caught between their teeth, being the baby of the bunch, wild parties that last from sundown to sunup, creeping vines, inspiring loyalty, grand opera houses, masquerade balls, rolls of film, shattered chandeliers with broken glass scattered across the wine-spilled floor, pouring champagne into flutes, lives for the applause

HEPHAESTUS / CRAFTSMANSHIP.  

the calloused hands of someone who knows labor, sweaty brow, flame burning in their eyes, inventive mind, broad shoulders, steampunk goggles, nuts and bolts stored away in little boxes, ashes, striking a match, blueprints for future projects, fixing up a busted up car and giving it cool upgrades, wrestles with bitterness, work boots have seen better years, wrinkled plaid shirts, iron melted in blazing fire, huge jackets, crafting masterpieces, greased-stained overalls, fascination with robotics, pain is fuel, stack of weaponry, even their muscles have muscles

HERA / MARRIAGE.  

resting bitch face, dressed to the nines, cows grazing on a pasture, cool rain, loving and hating fiercely, hand clutching a string of pearls, large chandelier with glittering crystals, plays the sims for the sole purpose of killing off their sims, romance to realism, pictures of the sky while flying on a plane, files that under fuck it, downs glasses of wine as they relax with a scented bubble bath and netflix, like their selfie or you’re grounded, knows 57 convenient ways to murder a man, dark eyes that penetrate your soul, marble and gold

HERMES / MESSENGER.  

devil-may-care smile, always up-to-date on the latest technology, will steal your french fries, does it for the vine, shitposter, puts googly eyes on everything, meme hoarder, long drives on the highway, ma and pop diners, spontaneous road trips, folded maps, fingers dancing across the keyboard of a laptop, shooting hoops on the basketball court, chatting up strangers as you all journey to your own destinations, goes jogging in the morning, mixes redbull with coffee, menace on april fool’s, hoodies and sneakers

POSEIDON / SEA.  

storm with skin, colourful coral reefs, waves crashing against the shore, stroking the soft fur of a cat, their heart pounding as their horse’s gentle trot speeds into a gallop, tousled locks, clothes smeared with paint, owns several sketchbooks yet always yearns to own more, leather jackets, fondness for diy projects, handwriting that flows across the page, nimble fingers playing the strings of a violin, velvety singing voice that haunts your dreams, mood as ever-changing as the sea, the roar of a motorcycle, compass with a spinning arrow

ZEUS / SKY.  

thunder in their heart, running on coffee, flash of lightning, natural charisma, eloquence, badass in a nice suit, aficionado of history, force of nature, lenny face, nightmare-filled nights, proud arm around their lover’s waist, high-rise buildings, planes soaring through a cloudless sky, technician on the piano, maintains order, strong handshake, juggling multiple events on their busy schedule with ease, expensive watch

NEXT: Max Montague

APHRODITE / LOVE.

laughter-loving, sweet smiles, dressed in silk and satin, flower in their hair, sees the world as a runway, unapologetically sexual, the sea washing their ankles, in love with love, stirrer of passion, cunning concealed by painted lips, secret daggers, doves, revolution in their kiss, delighting in the waves, flirtatious winks, strolling along the beach, staring wistfully from a balcony, this is how to be a heartbreaker, wants to be adored, gets turned on by danger

APOLLO / SUN.  

glitz and glamour, art galleries, turning the volume up, being made of gold, neatly-organized music sheets, notebooks filled with poetry, bathing in the sunlight, the powerful urge to create, collecting vinyl records, beautiful cover of wonderwall, playing multiple instruments, tasting like sunshine, healing touch, speaking in prophecies, smile mingled with wrath, shunning lies, sporting shades, hanging out at music festivals with their friends, sleeps naked, arrow to the heart, paint brushes, probably has a Tinder account

ARES / WAR.  

armed for battle, wants to raise a dog with their significant other, soft spot for children, gives piggyback rides, scarred body, blood on their hands and face, willing to fight the world for the ones they love, fights against injustice, warm hugs, well-worn combat boots, boxing gloves, bandages wrapped around bruised knuckles, fist raised in protest, ignites revolutions, fear is a prison, more sensitive than what their tough shell would have you think, exhausted, damaged goods, force to be reckoned with, red roses, curses under their breath

ARTEMIS / WILDERNESS.  

keen sense of a hunter, freckles like constellations on their skin, piercing eyes, dishevelled braid, moonlight peeking through the shadows, the calm of the forest at night, lying on the grass and staring at the stars, mother doe and her fawn, protecting their kin, the moon shimmering on a still lake, quiver full of arrows resting against the bark of a tree, running with wolves, bonding while circled around a campfire, not being much of a people person, arrow hitting a target, popping egos, patience on 3%, touches heaven and returns howling

ATHENA / WISDOM.  

discerning gaze, unreadable face, quiet museums, owl perched on their finger, armour that intimidates, eye for architecture, plays the sims for the sole purpose of building houses, studied the blade while everyone else was busy getting laid, big fan of logic, loves brain teasers, ancient buildings, sweaters in neutrals and cool colours, hair done up, can kill you with their brain, heads to the library often to research, sharpened pencils, abs that can cut steel, stoic statues, pottery classes

DEMETER / HARVEST.

soil-covered hands, smile that can bloom flowers, skin loved by the sun, being the mom-friend, can lift you and your friends, flowers kept in the pockets of overalls, takes pride in their beautiful garden, speaks to their plants, leaves rustling in the wind, stalks of wheat, picking fruit, greenhouses, heart as strong as a mountain, values simplicity, daisies dotted across a collarbone, curls crowned with flowers, folded pile of sweaters in warm hues, pulling out fresh-baked bread out of the oven and the smell wafting through the air

DIONYSUS / MADNESS.  

drunk shitposter, on their sixth glass of wine before you’ve even finished your second, seductive smirks, untamed curls, rich fabrics on dark skin, sleek-furred panthers, theater masks, stage productions, receiving a standing ovation, rose caught between their teeth, being the baby of the bunch, wild parties that last from sundown to sunup, creeping vines, inspiring loyalty, grand opera houses, masquerade balls, rolls of film, shattered chandeliers with broken glass scattered across the wine-spilled floor, pouring champagne into flutes, lives for the applause

HEPHAESTUS / CRAFTSMANSHIP.  

the calloused hands of someone who knows labor, sweaty brow, flame burning in their eyes, inventive mind, broad shoulders, steampunk goggles, nuts and bolts stored away in little boxes, ashes, striking a match, blueprints for future projects, fixing up a busted up car and giving it cool upgrades, wrestles with bitterness, work boots have seen better years, wrinkled plaid shirts, iron melted in blazing fire, huge jackets, crafting masterpieces, greased-stained overalls, fascination with robotics, pain is fuel, stack of weaponry, even their muscles have muscles

HERA / MARRIAGE.  

resting bitch face, dressed to the nines, cows grazing on a pasture, cool rain, loving and hating fiercely, hand clutching a string of pearls, large chandelier with glittering crystals, plays the sims for the sole purpose of killing off their sims, romance to realism, pictures of the sky while flying on a plane, files that under fuck it, downs glasses of wine as they relax with a scented bubble bath and netflix, like their selfie or you’re grounded, knows 57 convenient ways to murder a man, dark eyes that penetrate your soul, marble and gold

HERMES / MESSENGER.  

devil-may-care smile, always up-to-date on the latest technology, will steal your french fries, does it for the vine, shitposter, puts googly eyes on everything, meme hoarder, long drives on the highway, ma and pop diners, spontaneous road trips, folded maps, fingers dancing across the keyboard of a laptop, shooting hoops on the basketball court, chatting up strangers as you all journey to your own destinations, goes jogging in the morning, mixes redbull with coffee, menace on april fool’s, hoodies and sneakers

POSEIDON / SEA.  

storm with skin, colourful coral reefs, waves crashing against the shore, stroking the soft fur of a cat, their heart pounding as their horse’s gentle trot speeds into a gallop, tousled locks, clothes smeared with paint, owns several sketchbooks yet always yearns to own more, leather jackets, fondness for diy projects, handwriting that flows across the page, nimble fingers playing the strings of a violin, velvety singing voice that haunts your dreams, mood as ever-changing as the sea, the roar of a motorcycle, compass with a spinning arrow

ZEUS / SKY.  

thunder in their heart, running on coffee, flash of lightning, natural charisma, eloquence, badass in a nice suit, aficionado of history, force of nature, lenny face, nightmare-filled nights, proud arm around their lover’s waist, high-rise buildings, planes soaring through a cloudless sky, technician on the piano, maintains order, strong handshake, juggling multiple events on their busy schedule with ease, expensive watch

[paulisded]

The Ledge #536: Covers

As I have stated quite often during these cover tune broadcasts, I have a special folder where I place remakes as I come across them. Once that folder is full, it's time to do a show.

This time around, that folder grew at a pretty rapid pace. Of course I'm going to air Ultrabomb's version of "Sonic Reducer". I don't think anybody is surprised by the inclusion of "Borstal Breakdown" from that new live Replacements album. But many may be shocked by the inclusion of two tracks from the 1968 collaboration between Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood. Honestly, I had never heard these bonkers tunes until one day I hung out in my friend's record store. Seriously, that version of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" is something everybody should check out.

But what made it essential that I do this theme this very week are two special records that arrived a few days ago. The first is All The Covers (And More) by The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. Released on September 30 on Rum Bar Records, this 38 track compilation gathers together all of the remakes the band has recorded in their 25 year history.

The other is the latest project by Geoff Palmer. Standing In The Spotlight is a track by track recreation of Dee Dee Ramone's infamous 1989 "rap" album. Palmer, along with friends such as Kurt Baker and Brad Marino clearly show their love and respect for the man on this album, which was released today (September 18), Dee Dee's birthday.

I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these tunes on The Ledge! Let them know who is giving them promotion! You can find this show at almost any podcast site, including iTunes and Stitcher...or

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SHOW!

1. Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood, You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

2. Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood, Tired of Waiting for You 

3. Tony Valentino, Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White

4. The Right Here, Molly

5. Ty Segall, Don't Lie

6. Johnathan Pushkar, The Kids Are Alright

7. The Gold Needles, So Sad About Us

8. Nick Piunti, The Seeker

9. The Anderson Council, Glow Girl

10. The Cribs, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

11. The Cribs, Bastards Of Young

12. The Replacements, Borstal Breakout

13. Martha, Dreaming Out Loud 

14. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, Know Your Product

15. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, Slow Death

16. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, Los Angeles

17. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, Stiff Competition

18. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, Sonic Reducer

19. Kurt Baker, So It Goes 

20. Jesse Malin, Oh Oh I Love Her So

21. The New Brutarians, I'm Your Man 

22. Kurt Baker, High Fidelity

23. Geoff Palmer, Mash Potato Time

24. Geoff Palmer, Baby Doll

25. Geoff Palmer, The Crusher

26. Geoff Palmer, Poor Little Rich Girl

27. The Trouble Seekers, Borderline

28. The Trouble Seekers, He's A Whore

29. The Cheats, Surrender

30. The Cheats, Rock and Roll Love Letter

31. Eater, Waiting for the Man

32. Eater, Queen Bitch

33. Gentlemen Rogues, Last of the Famous International Playboys 

34. Gentlemen Rogues, Fuck and Run

35. Killer Hearts, Doctor, Doctor

36. Scumbag Millionaire, So Long

37. UltraBomb, Sonic Reducer

38. Eddie and the Subtitles, We Gotta Get Out of This Place